title: Epidemiological aspects of genital warts in romania - a 2012 retrospective survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Genital infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) has become one of the most frequently viral sexually transmitted diseases. The infection may remain asymptomatic, may take the form of external genital warts and may give raise to cervical cancers. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of the patients with genital warts addressing to five tertiary referral dermato-venereological units in Romania (where patients from several counties are referred) and to compare the results with the out-patient data reported by all Romanian hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data regarding patients with external genital warts who addressed to the hospital emergency rooms, in five tertiary referral dermato-venerological units in Romania (Bucharest, Timisoara, Craiova, Constanta, Târgu-Mures) were collected for the year 2012. For comparison there have been used data collected by the National School of Public Health, Management and Professional Development, during the same year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data reported at national level in 2012 included 952 patients (731 women and 221 men) with 26 males under 20 years of age and 251 female patients in the age group 0-20 years. In the overall population (males and females combined) the total number of genital warts cases registered at the hospital emergency rooms in the five centers, in the year 2012, was 266 patients (119 men and 147 women) with 4 girls under 14 years of age and 6 male patients in the age group 0-14 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high prevalence of the infection with HPV, the costs of treatment and the psychological impact prove that prevention of the disease is the most important step for decreasing the incidence of this disease. General measures for patients awareness regarding the disease and its complications need to be completed with the recommendation for vaccination. A closer monitoring of patients would provide information for a strategic national approach leading to a better outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology 2, Colentina Clinical Hospital, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Carmen Maria
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Salavastru
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology 2, Colentina Clinical Hospital, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Mihaela Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Niculescu
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology 2, Colentina Clinical Hospital, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zota
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Ovidius University, Constanta, Romania.
authors.forename: Gheorghe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nicola
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Targu Mures, Romania.
authors.forename: Horia Silviu
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Morariu
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania.
authors.forename: Caius
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Solovan
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Craiova, Romania.
authors.forename: Virgil
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Patrascu
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology 2, Colentina Clinical Hospital, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Georgeta
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Popovici
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Ovidius University, Constanta, Romania.
authors.forename: Raluca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vladuta
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology 2, Colentina Clinical Hospital, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Mihaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Panduru
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology 2, Colentina Clinical Hospital, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: George-Sorin
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Tiplica
keywords: HPV; HPV vaccination; Romania; external genital warts