A CLINICO-EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY OF VIRAL SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS AT A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remain a significant public health concern. Globally, over one million curable STIs are contracted daily by individuals aged 15 to 49,with the majority remaining asymptomatic.1 Historically, during the 1960s and 1970s in India, bacterial STIs such as syphilis, chancroid, and gonorrhea were predominant, while viral STIs such as herpes simplex virus (HSV), human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B and C were relatively rare. However, since the emergence of HIV in the 1980s, the STI landscape has changed markedly. There has been a noticeable rise in viral STIs and a concurrent decline in bacterial infections. This shift may be attributed to factors such as asymptomatic nature of many viral STIs leading to their underdiagnosis, improved self-reporting in symptomatic cases, widespread antibiotic usage, the effectiveness of syndromic management and enhanced primary healthcare services.2 Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) negatively affect sexual and reproductive health, leading to stigmatization, infertility, cancers, pregnancy complications, and an increased susceptibility to HIV.In addition, the emergence of drug resistance poses a significant challenge to global efforts in controlling the burden of STIs.1,2 Epidemiological research in dermatology is timelessly relevant it helps quantify the burden of these infections, gives insights on changing trends, uncover underlying causes and evaluate prevention and treatment strategies.