Citation

Pandhi RK, Khanna N, Sekhri R. Indian Pediatr. 1995; 32(1): 27-30.

Affiliation

Department of Dermatology and STD, Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, Indian Pediatrics)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8617530

Abstract

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are becoming increasingly common among pre-adolescents. Between January 1988 and August 1989, 362 patients reported to the Dermatology and STD Department of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Shahdara, Delhi, with complaints pertaining to their genitourinary system. 58 of these patients were younger than age 14 years. 63.7% were male, 25 were aged 11-14 years, 10 were aged 6-10 years, and 2 were aged 0-5 years. There were 2 girls aged 11-14 years, 11 aged 6-10 years, and 8 aged 0-5 years. 54 of the children (93.1%) were of lower socioeconomic strata families. All lived in slums and none had studied beyond the third class. Syphilis was identified in 27.6%, gonorrhea in 24.1%, chancroid in 22.4%, candidiasis in 10.3%, condylomata acuminata in 6.9%, and herpes genitalis in 6.9%. These children most likely contracted the observed STDs as a result of sexual assault, early sexual maturity, sexual promiscuity, and sexual contact with prostitutes. There was a history of forced passive homosexual exposure in two of the three boys with condylomata acuminata. It should be noted that in the 0-5 year age group, the two boys presented with congenital syphilis, while one girl had secondary syphilis and seven girls had gonococcal-genital infections. Congenital syphilis was identified in no other children in the sample.

Language: en