Detection of human papilloma virus infection in routine Papanicolaou-stained cervical smears

Women at reproductive age were investigated cytologically for the presence of koilocytes in cervical scrapings to study the frequency of Human Papilloma Virus infections. Out of 2275 cervical smears, 51 (2.24%) revealed koilocytes. Koilocytes were more frequently associated with dysplasia and neoplasia than inflammation and negative smears. Higher frequency of HPV infection was observed in Hindu women as compared to Muslims. Blood stained or white discharge per vaginum is the commonest presenting symptom of the patients with HPV cervical lesions. The data observed in this study provide useful baseline information.