Sexually transmitted infections and human immunodeficiency virus coinfection: Scenario in Western India

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have a well-established synergistic relationship with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Coinfection with HIV and STI can increase the probability of HIV transmission to an uninfected partner by increasing HIV concentrations in genital lesions, genital secretions, or both. Concurrent HIV infection alters the natural history of the classic STIs.

The aim was to study the current scenario of STIs with HIV co-infection, and to recognize different manifestations of STIs than the classical presentation in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV).

It was an open, cross-sectional, descriptive study carried out in the setting of state government hospital with attached antiretroviral therapy referral center.

The sample size of the study was duration based (30 months).

All PLHIV presenting to the department of dermatology with STIs were included in the study.

Non-STI causes of genital ulceration were excluded in the study.

The study includes total (n = 484) patients living with HIV/AIDS, prevalence of different STIs was in the following order, herpes simplex virus infections 24.17%, human papillomavirus infections 8.88%, molluscum contagiosum 7.43%, secondary syphilis 4.33%, gonorrhea 1.85%, chancroid 1.44%, and granuloma inguinale 0.41%. Of all the patients with herpes simplex virus infections, 45.6% (n = 57) had multiple recurrences (>6/year). The incidence of mixed STI was 17.29% in the present study.

The study represents decreasing trends in bacterial STIs and the rise of viral STIs. Atypical presentations of classic STIs were more frequent than non-HIV-infected individuals.