title: Perianal dermatoses among men who have sex with men: A clinical profile of 32 Indian patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A wide range of perianal dermatoses including different forms of sexually transmitted infections can occur in men who have sex with men (MSM).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the relative frequencies and types of perianal lesions in a group of men from eastern India who had a history of receptive anal intercourse.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional clinical observational study. Consecutive MSM, presenting with perianal symptoms to the Sexually Transmitted Disease clinic of a tertiary care hospital of eastern India were studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 32 patients (age 15-54 years, mean 38.5 years) were evaluated. Perianal wart was the most common (16, 50%) lesion detected, followed by fissure (3, 9.4%), herpes simplex infection (2, 6.2%), molluscum contagiosum (2, 6.2%), abscess (1, 3.1%), condyloma lata (1, 3.1%), candidiasis (1, 3.1%), furuncle (1, 3.1%), gonococcal infection (1, 3.1%), irritant contact dermatitis (1, 3.1%), and perianal psoriasis (1, 3.1%). Two patients had perianal tuberculosis. Four patients (12.5%) were HIV positive and syphilis was found in one.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A variety of dermatoses and infections can present in the perianal area of MSM, the most common being perianal wart. A thorough genital and perianal exam should be a part of a physical examination in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprosy, RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata, India. dr_skghosh@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: Sudip Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.forename: Debabrata
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bandyopadhyay
authors.forename: Arghyaprasun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.forename: Surajit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Biswas
authors.forename: Rajesh Kumar
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Mandal
authors.forename: Najmus Saadat
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Zamadar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001004:Anus Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult