Sexually transmitted diseases in Assam: An experience in a tertiary care referral hospital.

Background: Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including AIDS are becoming a major public health problem in developing countries worldwide. Aims: All the adult patients attending VCTC and STD clinics of Assam Medical College between May 2002 and December 2005 were enrolled in the study. Methods: Records of patients with high-risk sexual behavior and presence of STD on clinical examination were recorded in a predesigned proforma. Results: Of 479 individuals, 186 (38.8%) had evidence of STD and 70 were positive for HIV. Most (64%) were in the age group of 15 to 30 years. Candidiasis (vulvovaginal candidiasis in women and candidal balanitis/balanoposthitis in men) was the most common finding on clinical examination (21.5%) followed by syphilis (17.2%), genital warts (15%), herpes genitalis (11.3%), non-gonococcal urethritis (10.8%), and gonococcal urethritis (7%). Conclusion: High percentage of unmarried people (>45%) reporting with STD, which points to potential danger of HIV transmission in the region.