[Venerology in the everyday work of the internist]

The worldwide increase in the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases confronts the physician to an increasing extent with this group of infections. The high morbidity and the change in the clinical picture of gonorrhea, especially its asymptomatic form, give rise to extragenital complications which frequently lead the patient to the internal specialist in the first instance. Non-gonorrheal urethritis, in particular the infectious form, is undergoing intensive research. A number of organisms may be responsible, but a non-infectious origin must also be kept in mind. Syphilis is still important. The late stages of the disease have become rare thanks to highly effective therapy with antibiotics. The early stages of the infection, however, must always be considered in the differential diagnosis of any genital or anal affection, and also in generalized exanthemas of unknown origin. Homosexual transmission presents diagnostic problems of its own. Serological mass screening is essential. Interpretation of the results must take into account the different specificity of the various serological tests and their indication.