Vasuki Shanmugam1, Amudha Ranganathan2
BACKGROUND
Syphilis is one of the major sexually transmitted infections, which is showing a raising trend across the globe. The aim of the study is to study the prevalence of syphilis among Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) clinic attendees of a tertiary care hospital of south India.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This was a cross-sectional study of one year duration conducted at STI clinic of a government tertiary hospital in South India. Patients who have been diagnosed to have syphilis were analysed with respect to demographic profile and their sexual behaviour pattern.
RESULTS
40 were persons diagnosed to have syphilis among a total of 1790 STI clinic attendees. The mean age of patients with syphilis found to be 31 years. Male-to-female ratio is 7:1. 80% of patients with syphilis had higher school level and college level education. Homosexual behaviour pattern was predominant and it was found among 60% of them (p value 0.011). 62.5% of them were alcoholic. Safe sex practices were minimal in spite of knowledge about condom.
CONCLUSION
There was a raising trend of syphilis among STI clinic attendees during 2016. Early infectious stage of disease is more and was found more commonly among Men Having Sex with Men (MSM).
