[Sexually transmitted diseases--a separate specialty?]

Syphilis with its many manifestations on the skin in the secondary and tertiary stages of the disease has formed the basis of the traditional connection between dermatology and venereology. During recent years venereology has expanded to involve all sexually transmitted diseases. This development might raise the question whether the time has come to introduce sexually transmitted diseases as a separate specialty. This has been the case for years in England and seems well accepted. The problem is actualized by the present epidemic of HIV-infections and AIDS.