Clinico-Etiological Aspects of Patients Suffering from Genital Lesions: A Cross-Sectional Study from India

Abstract

Background: Genital dermatoses can interfere with sexual functioning and self-image. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are among the top 10 diseases in India. Objectives: This study aimed to document the burden, clinico-etiological, and demographic profile of patients presenting with genital lesions, determine the proportions of the pediatric and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seropositive patients, and identify contributory factors. Methods: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional observational study conducted at a tertiary hospital in Pune, India, in the Department of Dermatology and Pediatrics over a period of 2 months (July-August 2022). Patients presenting with genital lesions were enrolled after obtaining written informed consent. Relevant information was recorded using a predesigned proforma. Results: A total of 83 patients comprised 77 adults, 3 (3.6%) pediatric patients and adolescents each, and 15 (18.1%) HIV-seropositive individuals. The adult male-to-female ratio was 1.2: 1. The mean age of adults was 37.01 ± 14.57 years. The most common STI and non-STI lesions were herpes genitalis and tinea cruris, respectively, with a similar trend in the HIV-seropositive group. All three pediatric cases had non-STI lesions; however, 66.7% of adolescents had STIs (vulvovaginal candidiasis and genital warts). Overall, there was a slightly higher preponderance of non-STI lesions (53.75%), and the majority of patients had lesions of infectious nature (86.25%). The most common identifiable risk factor was lack of circumcision (51.25%), followed by unprotected intercourse (22.5%). The presence of risk factors was significantly associated with male gender (P = 0.0001). Conclusions: This study emphasizes that besides STIs, non-STIs contribute substantially to genital diseases.