title: Efficacy of syndromic management measured as symptomatic improvement in females with vaginal discharge syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In spite of a few shortcomings such as over diagnosis and over treatment, syndromic management is a recommended practice in India for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This study tries to find out the efficacy of syndromic management measured as symptomatic improvement in females with vaginal discharge syndrome.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study is to find out the effectiveness of syndromic management in terms of symptomatic improvement among females with vaginal discharge syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  A longitudinal study was conducted in Gynecology Department of Tertiary Care Hospital including 180 symptomatic females having vaginal discharge syndrome. Demographic profile, presenting complaints, menstrual history, obstetric history, partner history, and contraceptive history were noted. This was followed by clinical examination and specimen collection for laboratory tests and blood tests to find out type of STI including viral STI such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Treatment was given according to syndromic management on the same day. All the participants were asked to come for follow-up after 15 days and their improvement in symptoms was noted as complete improvement, some improvement or no improvement on a five point scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  63.9% cases showed complete improvement, while 36.1% showed some improvement. None of the patients was without any improvement. Vaginal discharge syndrome was most common between 20 and 30 years (43.4%), and 67.8% of symptomatic females with vaginal discharge syndrome belonged to the lower socioeconomic group. HSV infection was the most common (15%) associated viral infection with vaginal discharge syndrome, while hepatitis B infection was the least common (0.5%). HIV was reactive in 2.8% cases only.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Syndromic management was found to be effective in relieving symptoms in most of the cases of vaginal discharge syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Government Medical College, Baroda, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Vidyalaxmi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chauhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Government Medical College, Baroda, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Maitri C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Baroda, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Sangita V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Department of Skin and VD, Government Medical College, Baroda, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Yogesh S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Marfatia
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Baroda, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Dhara
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zalavadiya
keywords: Symptomatic improvement; syndromic management; vaginal discharge syndrome