Title: Epidemiology and aetiology of urethritis in Swaziland.

POPLINE Document Number: 018118

Author(s):

Meheus A
Ballard R
Dlamini M
Ursi JP
Van Dyck E
Piot P

Source citation:

International Journal of Epidemiology, 1980;9(3):239-45.

Abstract:

The annual incidence of urethritis can be estimated to be at least 3750/100,000 population in Swaziland. In a study of 109 males with symptomatic urethritis, 80% had gonorrhea, 6% nongonococcal urethritis (ngu), and 14% were classified as having no objective urethritis (less than 5 polymorphonuclear leucocytes/highpower field in the urethral smear). The relative frequency of gonorrhea was 80-95% and of nongonococcal urethritis 5-20% according to which criteria are used for patient selection and/or diagnosis ngu. Chlamydia trachomatis was cultured in 3.4% of the cases with urethritis, comprising 1 positive culture in 70 patients with gonorrhea, 1 in 5 with ngu, and 1 in 12 with no objective urethritis. 71% of patients with a comparable percentage in each diagnostic group, had chlamydial antibodies when tested by the microimmunofluorescence test to pooled chlamydial antigens. Interpretation of the chlamydial serologic results indicates that lymphogranuloma venereum is probably endemic in the country, and that oculogenital chlamydial infections are not a problem; this corresponds with the low isolation rate of Chlamydia trachomatis in the urethritis cases. The study shows that the epidemiology and causes of urethritis are clearly of a different pattern to that seen in industrialized countries. This type of study is a sound basis for a simplified but effective urethritis control program which can be implemented in the paraurban and rural health centers in developing countries. (author's)

Keywords:

Swaziland
Urogenital Effects
Examinations and Diagnoses
Men
Incidence
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Laboratory Procedures
Treatment
Developing Countries
Africa, Southern
Africa South of the Sahara
Africa
Urogenital System
Physiology
Biology
Demographic Factors
Population
Measurement
Research Methodology
Reproductive Tract Infections
Infections
Diseases
Laboratory Examinations and Diagnoses