Sexually transmitted diseases in children

Fifty eight (16%) of the 362 patients, who reported to Dermatology and STD Department with symptoms pertaining to their genitourinary system were below 14 years of age. Fifty four (93.1%) of these children belonged to families of lower socio-economic strata. All the children were slum dwellers and none of them had studied beyond the third class. Syphilis was seen in 27.6%, gonorrhea in 24.1%, chancroid in 22.4%, candidiasis in 10.3%, condylomata acuminata in 6.9% and herpes genitalis in 6.9% of these children. The probable reasons for the increased prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases in children as ascertained by this study were sexual promiscuity and probably sexual assault.