Clinico epidemiological study of secondary syphilis: a retrospective study from a tertiary care centre in Tamil Nadu
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/issn.2455-4529.IntJResDermatol20190965Keywords:
Syphilis, Secondary syphilis, VDRL, Annular syphilideAbstract
Background: Syphilis caused by spirochete Treponema pallidum is a bacterial sexually transmitted infection [STI] with protean manifestations. There is a rising trend of this disease due to changing sexual orientation and behavioural practices. The aim was to study the incidence, age, sex distribution, clinical presentation and serological findings of secondary syphilis in patients attending the Institute of Venereology in a tertiary care centre at Chennai.
Methods: Retrospective analysis of data of patients diagnosed as secondary syphilis who attended our institute over a period of 2 years from March 2015 and February 2017 was done. Complete epidemiological, clinical and investigational data were analysed.
Results: Among 57,316 patients who attended the STD clinic 459 patients were diagnosed to have syphilis. Among them 11.6% were found to have secondary syphilis with majority falling within the age group of 21 to 30 years. Among the 53 patients with secondary syphilis 94% were males, among which only 30% were married. Males having sex with males were affected more. Out of the various clinical presentations of secondary syphilis macular leisons was most commonly observed. Serological test done showed VDRL and TPHA positivity in 100% of patients with secondary syphilis.
Conclusions: There is increased prevalence of secondary syphilis among the males, especially among young unmarried males with homosexual orientation and promiscuity. Observations of this study emphasize the urgent need for implementation of programs to focus on sex education and counselling to the adolescents and young adults who tends to be the vulnerable population in the society.
Metrics
References
Newman L, Rowley J, Hoorn SV, Wijesooriya NS, Unemo M, Low N, et al. Global estimates of the prevalence and incidence of four curable STI in 2012 based on systematic review and global reporting. PLOS ONE. 2015;10(12):e0143304.
Ray K, Bala M, Gupta SM, Khunger N, Puri P, Muralidhar S, et al. Changing trends in sexually transmitted disease in a regional STD centre in north India. Indian J Med Res 2006;124:559-68.
Schumacher CM, Ellen J, Rompalo AM. Changes in demographics and risk behaviors of person with early syphilis depending on epidemic phase. Sex Transm Dis. 2008;35:190-6.
Jain A, Mendiratta V, Chander R. Current status of acquired syphilis: A hospital-based 5-year study. Indian J Sex Transm Dis. 2012;33:32-4.
Bingham JS. Historical Aspects of Sexually Transmitted Infections. In: Somesh Gupta, Bhushan Kumar. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2nd ed. New Delhi: Elsevier publishers; 2012: 12.
Kar HH. Incidence of secondary syphilis on a rise and need for a separate flow chart for its syndromic management. Indian J Sex Trans Dis. 2004;25:22-5.
Diseases in the United States, 2007. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/std/stats07/trends.htm. Accessed on 8 November 2011.
Simms I, Fenton KA, Ashton M, Turner KM, Crawley-Boevey EE, Gorton R, et al. The re-emergence of syphilis in the United Kingdom: The new epidemic phases. Sex Transm Dis. 2005;32:220–6.
Ray K, Bala M, Gupta SM, Khunger N, Puri P, Muralidhar S, et al. Changing trends in sexually transmitted disease in a regional STD centre in north India. Indian J Med Res. 2006;124:559.
Nishal PK, Kapoor A, Jain VK, Dayal S, Aggarwal K. Changing trends in acquired syphilis at a Tertiary Care Center of North India. Indian J Sex Transm Dis. 2015;36:149-53.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
