|
PRINT ISSN : 2319-7692
Online ISSN : 2319-7706 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcmas@gmail.com / submit@ijcmas.com Editor-in-chief: Dr.M.Prakash Index Copernicus ICV 2018: 95.39 NAAS RATING 2020: 5.38 |
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by Treponema pallidum. Prevalence of syphilis is changing in India recently because of availability of good laboratory diagnosis, treatment and increase health awareness. But it still remains as major public health problem with significant regional variations. Determine the seroprevalence of syphilis in various patients attending tertiary care hospital, Valsad. This retrospective study was conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital Valsad in South Gujarat from May 2016 to April 2017 over a period of one year. Blood samples received from various patient groups including antenatal cases, patients attending sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic and high risk cases were screened by Non specific treponemal test [Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) test] and specific treponemal test (Treponema pallidum Immunochromatography assay). From total 2938 samples only 63 were positive by qualitative RPR test. Of these 58 cases were confirmed by quantitative RPR test and Treponema pallidum immunochromatography assay. The overall seroprevalence found in this study was 1.97%. The seroprevalence of patients attending the sexually transmitted infection clinic, antenatal group and among the HIV positive individuals were 4.11%, 0.28% and 6.25% respectively. The present study found lower seroprevalence of syphilis in antenatal cases and in STD clinics. These findings could be interpreted as indicators of improved programmes for prevention and management of STDs. Even though the prevalence of syphilis is on the decline, screening of high risk populations should be continued to avoid the complications of undiagnosed and untreated syphilis.