Title: Tropical venereology.

POPLINE Document Number: 018201

Author(s):

Arya OP
Osoba AO
Bennett FJ

Source citation:

Edinburgh, Scotland, Churchill Livingstone, 1980. 234 p.

Abstract:

Sexually transmitted diseases (STD) in tropical countries differ from those in more developed countries in 4 respects: 1) they are more prevalent, 2) their patterns differ, 3) their diagnosis and management must be modified and simplified due to technological and economic constraints, and 4) complications are more frequently encountered or are the presenting features. Rural and tropical areas show alarmingly high rates of gonorrhea and its complications (especially urethral stricture, epididymitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and infertility), gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum, and all stages of syphilis. The whole spectrum of each disease is usually seen, either because treatment facilities are not available, people do not utilize existing services, or treatment is not adequate. This book, aimed at medical practitioners and students in tropical countries, includes chapters on the incidence, clinical manifestations, differential diagnosis, and treatment of syphilis, endemic treponematoses, chancroid, gonorrhea, nongonococcal and nonspecific inflammatory disease and Reiter's syndrome, lymphogranuloma venereum, granuloma inguinale, and other sexually transmitted conditions. An initial approach to STD control should be to establish a model unit with up-to-date facilites for diagnosis and treatment and research and training in the national referral or teaching hospitals. This could be followed by more widespread services, including microscopy, in peripheral units, and more sophisticated testing, such as culturing the serology, at the district or provincial levels. Large cities with a considerable STD problem might consider separate STD clinics within the larger health centers. The private doctors who treat many STD patients should be drawn into the STD control program by offering them free facilities for diagnosis, contact tracing, and postgraduate education. Medical education on STD should also be directed at auxiliary health workers who provide much of the primary care in the tropics. Community education should focus on sexual behavior, condom use, avoidance of self-medication, symptom recognition, early reporting for treatment, and cooperation in contact tracing. Descriptive studies based on adequate district records and limited morbidity surveys should be carried out by community medical officers to determine STD prevalence and identify the groups at greatest risk.

Keywords:

Developing Countries
Africa, Eastern
Africa, Central
Africa, Southern
Africa, Western
Africa South of the Sahara
Africa
Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention
Treatment
Rural Health Services
Health Education
Health Services
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Reproductive Tract Infections
Infections
Diseases
Delivery of Health Care
Health
Education