Vol. 8, Issue 5, Part D (2022)

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are becoming a major public health problem in developing countries worldwide. Proper history and perfect laboratory diagnosis is important for complete cure of patients.

AIM: Aim of the presenting study is to determine the etiological profile of genital ulcers in patients attending with Genital Ulcer Disease (GUD) in a regional STI clinic at tertiary care hospital in central India.

Material and Methods: Swabs & serum were collected at Regional STI center, Govt. Medical College & Hospital, Nagpur, from 780 patients of GUD between April 2017 to March 2021, for determining the etiology. Staining techniques used were Gram, Giemsa and Dark Ground Illumination (DGI). Serum IgG and IgM against Herpes simplex virus- type 2 (HSV-2) were determined by ELISA and specific anti treponemal antibodies of Treponema pallidum were determined by hemagglutination (TPHA) test.

Results and Discussion: Out of 780 patients, 621 were male and 159 were female. Etiology could be determined in 333(42.69%) patients. HSV-2 infection accounted for 231 (26.61%) cases, 58 (7.4%) by staining, 127 (16.2%) being IgG positive and 79 (10.1%) being IgM positive. T. pallidum was responsible for 42 (5.38%) cases by TPHA including 3 (0.3%) cases by DGI. Haemophilus ducreyi was identified in 40 (5.12%) and Calymmatobacterium granulomatis in 20 (2.56%) cases both by staining. Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) infection did not present as ulcer but as bubo in 4 (0.51%) patients.

Conclusion: In our region herpes due to HSV-2 was the commonest GUD followed by syphilis, chancroid and donovanosis in that order.