title: Pattern of sexually transmitted infections in a Muslim majority region of North India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Changing trends of sexually transmitted infections (STI) and HIV/AIDS has been noted in the literature over years, depending to some extent on the geographical and cultural factors of the region. In Kashmir Valley also, the pattern of STI may be different from the rest of the country.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to present the experience with patterns of STI in Kashmir.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective hospital-based study carried out by detailed analysis of case records of 5-year period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 184 patients, 100 males and 84 females, had specific STI. Genital ulcer disease was the presentation in 54 patients (29.35%), out of which herpes genitalis was found in 27 patients (50%), followed by chancroid in 13 (24.07%) and syphilis in 10 (18.52%) patients. 42 female patients (22.83%) presented with vaginal discharge, out of which, 24 (57.14%) had vaginal candidiasis. 24 males (13.04%) presented with urethral discharge, out of which, 15 (62.5%) had nongonococcal and 9 (37.5%) gonococcal urethritis. Genital molluscum contagiosum (MC) was found in 19 patients (10.33%), and warts in 15 (8.15%). HIV positive serology was detected in 3 patients (1.63%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The most common STI encountered in our study was genital ulcer, followed by vaginal discharge, urethritis, genital MC, and genital warts. Herpes genitalis was the commonest genital ulcer; candidiasis was the most common cause of vaginal discharge and nongonococcal urethritis the most common cause of urethritis. These findings are by and large similar to those noted in other parts of our country.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Leprosy, Government Medical College, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Iffat
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Leprosy, Government Medical College, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Parvaiz
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Anwar
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Leprosy, Government Medical College, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Shagufta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rather
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Leprosy, Government Medical College, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Farah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sameem
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Leprosy, Government Medical College, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Imran
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Majid
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Leprosy, Government Medical College, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Yasmeen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jabeen
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Leprosy, Government Medical College, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Syed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mubashir
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Leprosy, Government Medical College, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Nuzhatun
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nisa
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Leprosy, Government Medical College, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Qazi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Masood
keywords: Genital ulcer; sexually transmitted infections; urethritis; vaginal discharge