title: Trends of Sexually Transmitted Infections : A 33 Year Experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are a major public health problem the world over. This study was aimed at analyzing the trends of STIs in a 33 year period at a tertiary care service hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective data analysis was done of all the cases diagnosed as STIs during a 33 year period from 1974 to 2006.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 4532 STIs were seen in 4215 males. The commonest STI was chancroid (37.2%), followed by syphilis (16.2%). The commonest age group involved was the 21-30 year group (57.6 %). STIs declined from a total of 311 cases in 1974 to seven cases in 2006. This trend was mirrored in all major STIs. Multiple STIs were seen in 317 (07.5%) cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The frequency of STIs has shown a distinctly decreasing trend from over the last 33 years.
authors.affiliation: Classified Specialist (Dermatology), 5 Air Force Hospital, C/o 56 APO.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grover
authors.affiliation: Classified Specialist (Dermatology), CH (AF), Bangalore 560007.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rajagopal
keywords: Sexually transmitted infections; Trends