A study of clinicoepidemiological and risk behaviour profile of patients with anogenital warts attending an urban STI clinic of Eastern India

Objective To determine the demographic, epidemiological features, frequency, clinical characteristics of the patients presenting with genital warts in an urban STD clinic setting. Also, observe the relationship with other sexually transmitted infections including HIV and other co-morbidities. Methods An institution-based, observational, cross-sectional clinical study was carried over twelve months (from March 2011 to February 2012). About a hundred accepting consecutive patients clinically diagnosed with genital warts were interviewed regarding the demographic features including age, sex, religion, occupation, educational status, marital status and others. Histopathological specimens stained with hematoxylin and eosin were examined when deemed necessary. Results Out of 93 patients, 71 (76.3%) patients were males and 22 (23.7%) were females. The majority of the patients (66, 71.0%) came from urban areas of Kolkata and its suburbs while the rest (27, 29%) hailed from the rural areas. Modes of sex were genital (84, 90.3%), oral (36, 38.7%), anal (13, 14.0%) and others (like toys, etc., 1, 1.0%). Twenty-seven (29.0%) patients presented with a single wart; 30 (32.3%) had 2-5 warts, 10 (10.75%) patients each had 6-10 and 11-15 warts. Surface changes as secondary infections, bleeding and small necroses were seen in 4 (4.3%) patients. Conclusion Anogenital warts more commonly occurred in males in third decade of life. Most of patients were married, polygamous, smokers and belonged to lower socio-economic class. Morphologically, classical condylomata acuminata was the most common type. Concurrent other sexually transmitted diseases were rare.