Recent Trends of Syndromic Sexually Transmitted Infections at a Tertiary Care Center in Maharashtra, India: A Retrospective Analysis

Abstract

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) constitute a major public health problem in both developed and developing countries. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and STIs are linked in their similar mode of transmission, with STIs facilitating the acquisition and transmission of HIV. The prevalence pattern of individual STIs may evolve over time necessitating a corresponding change in management strategies. Objectives: The study was conducted to determine the burden and any change in the etiological trend among attendees of an STIs clinic at a tertiary care hospital. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed data retrieved from consecutive patients attending an STIs clinic over two years (July 2018 to July 2020). Results: Overall, 1916 patients were diagnosed with STIs. The predominant age group was 25 - 44 years (59.23%). Genital ulcer disease was the foremost syndrome (1213, 63.3%). Overall, herpetic genital ulcer was the most common (682, 35.6%), followed by non-herpetic ulcers (531, 27.7%). Vaginal discharge, lower abdominal pain, and urethritis were found in 461 (24%), 219 (11.43%), and 23 (1.27%) of the patients, respectively. Amongst 237 (12.36%) In HIV seropositive attendees, genital ulcer disease (herpetic) was the most common syndrome (179, 75.53%), followed by vaginal discharge (42, 17.72%), lower abdominal pain (9, 3.8%), and urethritis (7, 2.9%). Conclusions: A definite change in the profile of STIs was observed with ulcerative STIs (particularly herpes genitalis) constituting the major burden against a discernible back drop of decreasing non-herpetic STIs. A systematic, regional, periodic synopsis would not only help to follow and document the dynamic trends, but also can help to assess the effectiveness of control programs.