Retrospective Study of Pattern of Sexually Transmitted Infections in a Tertiary Care Center in South India

Ranjani Raju; Muthukumaran Rajaram

Ranjani Raju Venereology and Leprology, Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital, Coimbatore,Tamil Nadu, India
Muthukumaran Rajaram Venereology and Leprology, Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital,Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

Keywords: Cervical and vaginal discharge, Human immunodeficiency virus, Sexually transmitted infections, Syphilis,, Transgender

Abstract

Introduction: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to be the major social and economic problems leading to
considerable morbidity, mortality, and stigma in the developing world. Unprotected sex with an infected partner is the major
risk factor for STIs and it further increases the risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. There is an immense
need to understand the patterns of STIs prevailing in various regions of a country for proper planning and implementation of
STI control strategies.
Aims and Objectives: The aims of the study were to the pattern of various STI in patients attending the sexually transmitted
disease (STD) clinic of a tertiary care hospital in South India.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was done with the case records in the STD outpatient department, Coimbatore
Medical College, Coimbatore, during the period from January 2014 to December 2018. The patient’s data and laboratory results
were compiled and studied.
Results: Of 2455, STI cases studied, there were 1127 male STI and 1281 female STI, and the male to female ratio is (1.1:1.2).
There was 47 transgender with STIs. The most common complaint was vaginal and cervical discharge (27.04%) followed by
syphilis (20.17%) and the least common complaint was non-herpetic ulcer (5.7%). In our study, 105 cases (4.27%) were found
to be HIV positive.
Conclusion: In our study, the common STI found was cervical and vaginal discharge followed by syphilis. The combined
approach of mass screening and behavioral changes in the population can decrease spread of STIs and HIV rapidly.

Author Biographies

Ranjani Raju, Venereology and Leprology, Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital, Coimbatore,Tamil Nadu, India

Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology,

Muthukumaran Rajaram, Venereology and Leprology, Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital,Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

Professor, Department of Dermatology,

References

1. Marfatia YS, Sharma A, Joshipura SP. Overview of sexually transmitted
diseases. In: Valia RG, Valia AR, editors. IADVL Textbook of Dermatology.
3rd ed., Vol. 59. Mumbai: Bhalani Publishing House; 2008. p. 1766-78.
2. Aral S, Over M, Manhart L, Holmes KK. Sexually transmitted infections.
In: Jamison D, Evans D, Alleyne G, Jha P, Breman J, Measham A, editors.
Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries. Washington, DC:
World Bank and Oxford University Press; 2006. p. 311-30.
3. UNAIDS. UNAIDS AIDS Epidemic Update. Geneva: UNAIDS; 2005.
4. Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) Fact Sheet, No. 110. November
2013. Archived from the Original on 25 November 2014. Available from:
http.//www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs110/en. [Last accessed on
2014 Nov 30].
5. Sexually Transmitted Infections. Women’s Health Government 22 February
2017. Available from: http.//www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs110/en.
[Last accessed on 2017 Dec 08].
6. Murray PR, Rosenthal KS, Pfaller MA. Medical Microbiology. 7th ed. St.
Louis, MO: Mosby; 2013. p. 418.
7. Richard VG. Mims’ Medical Microbiology. 5th ed. Edinburgh: Saunders;
2012. p. 245.
8. “Male STI Check-Up Video”. Channel 4. 2008. Archived from the Original
on 23 January 2009. Available from: http.//sexperienceuk.channel4.com/ education/about/male/sti/checkup. [Last accessed on 2009 Jan 22].
9. Seale A, Broutet N, Narasimhan M. Assessing process, content, and politics
in developing the global health sector strategy on sexually transmitted
infections 2016-2021: Implementation opportunities for policymakers.
PLoS Med 2017;14:e1002330.
10. Risbud A. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and sexually transmitted
diseases (STDs). Indian J Med Res 2005;121:369-76.
11. World Health Organization. A new approach to STD control and AIDS
prevention. Glob AIDS News 1994;4:13-5.
12. World Health Organization. Guidelines for the Management of Sexually
Transmitted Infection. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2001.
13. National Guidelines on Prevention, Management and Control of
Reproductive Tract Infections, Maternal Health Division NACO, Ministry
of Health and Family Welfare. New Delhi: Government of India; 2007.
14. Thapar R, Riyaz M, Kaur N. Prevalence and pattern of sexually transmitted
diseases in a tertiary care hospital in Chamba, Himachal Pradesh. Int J
Contemp Med Res 2018;5:E5-9.
15. Sarkar S, Shrimal A, Das J, Choudhury S. Pattern of sexually transmitted
infections: A profile from a sexually transmitted infections clinic of a tertiary
care hospital of Eastern India. Ann Med Health Sci Res 2013;3:206-9.
16. Nair TG, Asha LK, Leelakumari PV. An epidemiological study of sexually
transmitted diseases. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2000;66:69-72.
17. Sethi S, Mewara A, Hallur V, Prasad A, Sharma K, Raj A, et al. Rising
trends of syphilis in a tertiary care center in North India. Indian J Sex
Transm Dis AIDS 2015;36:140-3.
18. Maity S, Bhunia SC, Biswas S, Saha MK. Syphilis seroprevalence among
patients attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic in West Bengal,
India. Jpn J Infect Dis 2011;64:506-8.