Prevalence of Syphilis among People living with HIV (PLHIV) attending a tertiary care hospital in coastal south India

Authors

  • Deepak Madi Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore Manipal University
  • Basavaprabhu Achappa Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore Manipal University
  • Poonam Vernakar Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore Manipal University
  • Unnikrishnan Bhaskaran Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore Manipal University
  • John T Ramapuram Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore Manipal University
  • Soundarya Mahalingam Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore Manipal University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v6i6.11623

Keywords:

Syphilis, HIV / AIDS, VDRL.

Abstract

Background: Syphilis and HIV are both transmitted sexually so people can be infected with both diseases. Co-infection of syphilis and HIV alters the course of both the diseases. Venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) test is a non-treponemal test, used commonly in Antiretroviral Therapy Centres (ART) in India to detect syphilis. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of syphilis in HIV-infected patients attending a tertiary care hospital using VDRL test.

Materials and Methods: Using a cross-sectional study design 113 HIV positive patients were included. VDRL test was used to screen for syphilis. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 11.5.

Results: Among the 113 patients screened 69(61%) were males and 44(39%) were females. Majority of the patients had acquired the disease through heterosexual transmission (92.9%). VDRL test was negative in all 113 patients.

Conclusion: The seroprevalence of syphilis in coastal South India using VDRL is very less. Specific tests like Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody Absorption test (FTA-ABS) or Treponema pallidum hemagglutination Assay (TPHA) would be beneficial to detect asymptomatic syphilis in ART centers.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v6i6.11623 

Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.6(6) 2015 77-79

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Author Biographies

Deepak Madi, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore Manipal University

Associate Professor,Internal Medicine

Basavaprabhu Achappa, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore Manipal University

Associate Professor

Internal Medicine

Poonam Vernakar, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore Manipal University

Intern, Internal Medicine

Unnikrishnan Bhaskaran, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore Manipal University

Professor, Community Medicine

John T Ramapuram, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore Manipal University

Professor, Internal Medicine

Soundarya Mahalingam, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore Manipal University

Associate Professor, Pediatrics

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Published

2015-06-11

How to Cite

Madi, D., Achappa, B., Vernakar, P., Bhaskaran, U., Ramapuram, J. T., & Mahalingam, S. (2015). Prevalence of Syphilis among People living with HIV (PLHIV) attending a tertiary care hospital in coastal south India. Asian Journal of Medical Sciences, 6(6), 77–79. https://doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v6i6.11623

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Original Articles