Prostitution describes sexual intercourse in exchange for remuneration. The legal status of prostitution varies in different countries, from punishable by death to complete legality. The great degree of social stigma associated with prostitution, of both buyers and sellers, has lead to terminology such as 'commercial sex trade', 'commercial sex worker' (CSW), female sex worker (FSW) or sex trade worker. Organisers of prostitution are typically known as pimps (if male) and madams (if female). Brothels are establishments specifically dedicated to prostitution, often confined to special red-light districts in big cities. The devadasi (handmaiden of god) system of dedicating unmarried young girls to gods in Hindu temples, which often made them objects of sexual pleasure of temple priests and pilgrims, was an established custom in India by 300 AD. An estimated 85% of all prostitutes in Calcutta and Delhi enter the sex work at an early age. The causes of prostitution include ill treatment by parents, bad company, family prostitutes, social customs, inability to arrange marriage, lack of sex education, media, prior incest and rape, early marriage and desertion, lack of recreational facilities, ignorance, and acceptance of prostitution. Truck drivers engaging in unprotected sexual intercourse with multiple partners in rural India could be major vectors of HIV transmission. The commercial sex industry is a multibillion dollar Indian and global market which now includes strip clubs, massage brothels, phone sex, adult and child pornography, street brothel, and escort prostitution. So long as men want to buy sex, prostitution is assumed to be inevitable.

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Lipschütz first identified an acute disease with ulceration of the external genital organs of young women. The syndrome has been termed acute vulvar ulcer or ulcus vulvae acutum. The following typical case history of a 19-year-old girl is a good illustration of this interesting clinical entity.

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Homosexuality can be described as the orientation and inclination of a person to have sexual relations with a person of his or her own sex. The clustering of Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) cases among male homosexuals in the initial phase of the HIV epidemic in the USA and a few other Western countries led to a misleading notion that the disease afflicted only "reckless" male homosexuals and it was often referred to as the 'gay plague' or 'gay cancer', 'gay' being the current vogue word for homosexuals. Very little is known about the practice of homosexuality in contemporary India. According to Ashok Row-Kavi, a self-acclaimed homosexual activist, the number of exclusively or predominantly homosexual men in India may be over 50 million. A vast majority of them are married and living with their wives. A culturally identifiable group known by the Urdu term "hijra" lives in most parts of India and are known to depend, at least partly, for their livelihood on working as male prostitutes. Most hijras are castrated males and dress as females. In addition to a large section of the hijra community, there are many full-time or part-time male prostitutes in India. Some of them live in red-light areas of metropolitan cities; many seek male clients by offering massage services in parks, beaches, hotels, and houses. Male prostitution is increasingly visible in India. In Delhi there are as many as twenty "agencies" offering "handsome masseurs" in the classifieds of the newspapers (Hindustan Times).

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Lichen sclerosus (LS) is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis that causes substantial discomfort and morbidity, most commonly in adult women. The objective of our study is to study the pattern of vulval LS and to correlate LS with various clinical parameters. The study included 26 female patients with vulval LS presenting over a period of 22 months, starting from September 2005 to June 2007. Demographic characteristics and clinical findings were recorded. The mean age of LS patients was 44 years (range 3-65 years). Lichen sclerosus was most commonly observed in postmenopausal women (18, 69.2%), followed by women in reproductive age group (5, 19.23%), and prepubertal girls (3, 11.5%). All patients presented with ivory white atrophic plaque. Surface of the plaque showed telangiectasia in one patient; both erosions and fissuring in two patients, ­erosions in four patients, fissuring in two patients, and wrinkling in all patients. Introitus was stenosed in five (19.2%) patients, out of which three (11.5%) patients also had perianal involvement leading to "figure of 8" appearance. Three patients had atrophy of labia minora and clitoris to an extent that labia minora appeared merged with labia majora and clitoris was buried. This study highlights the importance of diagnosing LS as it is associated with considerable morbidity.

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Globally there are 40 million people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/ acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). According to latest estimates based on National Family Health Survey (NFHS), released by National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), the National adult HIV prevalence in India is approximately 0.36% which corresponds to an estimated 2 to 3.1 million people living with HIV in the country. The new lower estimates are due to difference in surveillance method and do not mean a sharp decline in the epidemic. HIV prevalence has begun to decline in Tamil Nadu and other southern states with high HIV burden. There has been feminization of epidemic with an estimated 38.4% of infected adults being female. Eighty-six percent of the Indian population is unaware of their HIV status with only 57% population being aware of the preventive methods. There are more than 4000 integrated counseling and testing centers (ICTCs) in the country. About 80,000 patients are accessing free antiretroviral treatment (ART) in 127 centers. PPTCT program has been scaled up in the county with Nevirapine as the regimen of choice. It has an efficacy rate of 48% in prevention of HIV transmission in the mother baby pair; there are chances of increased drug-resistance to ART in mothers who were treated with prophylactic single-dose Nevirapine. These patients face a lot of stigma and discrimination. A 2006 study found that 25% of people living with HIV in India had been refused medical treatment on the basis of their HIV-positive status.

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Trichomonas vaginalis is a parasitic protozoan that is the cause of trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted disease (STD) of worldwide importance. Recent data have shown that the annual incidence of trichomoniasis is more than 170 million cases worldwide. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that this infection accounts for almost half of all curable sexually transmitted infections. The actual burden of the disease remains unknown in India. As per the published literature, the prevalence of T. vaginalis ranges from 0.4-27.4% in women and 0.0-5.6% in men. Although T. vaginalis is the most common cause of nonviral STD, the exact mechanism of its pathogenesis has not been clearly elucidated. Standard teaching is that trichomoniasis is an important cause of vaginitis in women. The prevalence and spectrum of disease in males are less well characterized; the infection appears to usually be asymptomatic, but it has been suggested as an increasingly important cause of nongonococcal urethritis. The laboratory plays a key role in the diagnosis of this infection. The time-honored approach has been microscopic evaluation by wet mount method. The broth culture method is the 'gold standard' for diagnosis of trichomoniasis and detects twice as many infections as the wet mount method. The drug of choice is metronidazole or tinidazole. For long it has been considered a 'minor' STD. Recent literature documents that women infected during pregnancy are predisposed to premature rupture of membranes, premature labor, and low-birth-weight infants. Further, it may amplify HIV transmission. Therefore, the identification of this common treatable sexually transmitted infections offers a precious and much needed additional strategy for AIDS prevention.

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Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is a medical response given to prevent the transmission of pathogens after potential exposure. The PEP for HIV refers to a set of comprehensive services to prevent HIV infection in exposed individuals where the exposure can be occupational or non-occupational (nPEP) and the provision of short-term (28 days) antiretroviral drugs depending on risk assessment with follow-up. High concentration of free infectious virus and virus-infected cells have been reported in blood, genital fluids and cerebrospinal fluid. The average risk of HIV infection after percutaneous exposure to HIV-infected blood is 0.3%. The nPEP can be offered for cases like unprotected sexual exposure, sexual assault survivors, injecting drug users (IDUs) sharing equipment, etc. While considering PEP, evaluation of exposure, exposure source and exposed person is to be done and 2 or 3 drug PEP (depending upon the type of exposure) can be started within 72 h and need to be continued for 28 days. Drugs preferred are zidovudine + lamivudine. If needed, a boosted protease inhibitor can be added.

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The aim of our study was to examine the frequency and characteristics of recurrent lower urinary tract infections (LUTIs) due to sexual intercourse (sex-induced cystitis - SIC) in female population of three districts of the rural Thebes targeted to investigate the influence of age and culture on its epidemiology. We examined 432 women between 15 and 65 years of age in female populations of three district of the rural areas of Thebes between May 2006 and January 2007 with symptoms of recurrent LUTIs. Women who reported a sexual intercourse 24-72 h before the onset of symptoms were evaluated as possible cases of SIC. Urinalysis was done during therapy, 10 days after completion of treatment and within 24 weeks after the initial therapy. Women with a positive urine culture were evaluated by an ultrasound examination of their urinary tract and those having abnormality of urinary tract were excluded from the study, while the remaining completed a simple questionnaire querying on several risk factors that could be possibly associated with SIC. The SIC, accounted for almost 40% of the recurrent cases, was the most frequent in non-menopausal women of age between 23-27 years and 40-47 years and affected almost equally women of all three groups (local, immigrants and rom). There were no statistically significant differences between the cultural groups in the frequency rate of SIC; however, the immigrant women study group showed a slightly lower frequency of SIC when compared to the other groups. Frequency of SIC was slightly higher during summer in all populations studied. The SIC being a neglected and often misdiagnosed disorder, represents a challenging and significant healthcare issue affecting mainly young women of lower socioeconomic groups independent of the ethnicity, behavioural and ethical issues.

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A 30-year-old, previously healthy, nulliparous married woman presented with painful genital ulceration of 1 month duration. She was admitted with a diagnosis of chronic genital herpes with oral thrush and pulmonary tuberculosis. ELISA test for antibodies against HIV was positive for both the partners. She was treated in isolation ward with four-drug regimen of antituberculous therapy (ATT), oral cloxacillin oral fluconazole and acyclovir 400 mg three times daily. The genital lesions completely resolved after treatment with acyclovir.

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With developing countries on the wave of a HIV epidemic, issues like quality of life (QOL) have come to fore. We aimed to assess the quality of life in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients at antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinic in a tertiary healthcare centre in South India. The study was conducted on 60 HIV/AIDS patients attending ART clinic at a tertiary health hospital, Chennai, South India. QOL was evaluated using the WHO QOL-BREF (Field trial version) instrument using 26 items grouped under 4 domains, namely physical health, psychological well-being, social relationships, and environment on 60 HIV/AIDS patients. Standard error of the difference between means was employed to find out significant difference between domain scores and clinical categories. QOL scores were highest for environmental domain which is 46.19 (0-100 scale). QOL scores were significantly lower among persons with lower CD4 counts ( P < 0.001). Women had lower QOL scores than men despite having less advanced disease. Patients with better educational background had significantly higher psychological domain scores. Also, a supportive family kept environmental domain scores better ( P < 0.001). A need for good healthcare support system was perceived. Better education helps the patient to cope with the disease well. Family support is essential for healthier environment.

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Cutaneous manifestations of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or acquired Immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) can occur throughout all stages of infection. The dermatological complications of HIV and AIDS may be distressing to the patient and difficult for the dermatologist to diagnose and manage. The aim of this study was to examine the pattern of noninfectious cutaneous manifestations and their relationship with stage of HIV infection. Two hundred HIV-positive/AIDS cases attending Skin-STD clinic, Govt. Medical College, Vadodara, were thoroughly examined to find cutaneous manifestations. Skin, scalp and nails were thoroughly examined. One hundred twenty out of 200 cases had noninfectious cutaneous manifestations like pruritic papular eruption in 43 cases (35.8%), pigmentary changes in 10 cases (8.3%), seborrheic dermatitis in 5 cases (4.2%) and psoriasis in 4 cases (3.3%). Such presentations were more frequently observed in symptomatic/AIDS cases. Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were observed in 15 cases. These include 6 out of 30 cases on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 9 cases on other medications. Pemphigus vulgaris and acanthosis nigricans (AN) were seen as co-presentation, each in 1 case of AIDS. HIV-related cutaneous manifestations are very common and, if studied properly, can serve as diagnostic and prognostic markers. They may reflect involvement of internal organs. Many of the infectious and noninfectious manifestations respond well to antiretroviral therapy, which may not be feasible in resource-restricted setup.

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Genital infection by human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted disease (STD), has increased considerably due to the changes in sexual behaviour and an increase in the practice of oral sex. HPV, in a parallel manner, has been closely studied due to its oncogenic potential. We present the case of a 27-year-old patient, with a multi-partner sexual history and frequent practice of oral sex, who suffered from warts lesions on the genitalia and tongue. Squamous papilloma was diagnosed from a tongue biopsy. The treatment of the oral lesion was by way of surgery, without relapse in the first two years. Our discussion in this report is regarding the HPV infection in the oral cavity.

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WHO estimates that 20% of persons living with HIV/AIDS are in their 20s and one out of twenty adolescents contract a sexually transmitted disease (STD) each year. A total of 303 adolescents and youths (10-24 years of age) attending an STD clinic were subjected to a questionnaire to assess sexual behavioural patterns that predisposed them to STD. Scope of the questions included age at initiation of sexual intercourse, partner at first exposure, number of sexual partners, use of condoms, exposure to commercial sex workers (CSWs), previous infection with STDs and role of alcohol. Their diagnosis was based on history, clinical findings and laboratory confirmation. Adolescents and youths accounted for 30% of the total number of patients attending the STD clinic during this period. The male to female ratio was 1:0.95. Ninety-six percent (290) were single while 4% (13) were married. Seventy-two percent (217) were students. Age at onset of sexual activity was 10-20 years in 80%, 85% practiced risky sexual behaviour, patronising casual partners was frequent especially after alcohol use, 10% had been exposed to CSWs, condom use was poor, number of sexual partners varied between 1 and 5 and previous infections were not professionally treated. Adolescents and young people are sexually active and practice risky sexual behavioural patterns. Adolescents and youths account for a high percentage of patients patronising the STD clinic. Sexual education and youth friendly reproductive health services are urgently needed to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS/STDs.

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Lichen sclerosus is an uncommon disease of unknown etiology in which small white areas on the skin may be associated with an atrophic, potentially scarring condition of the perineum. A 45-year-old male patient presented with porcelain white atrophic plaques over shaft and glans penis, along with complaint of intense pruritus, painful penile erection and burning micturition. Presumptive diagnosis of lichen sclerosus was kept. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis.

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A 56-year-old male patient who had history of sexual exposure 28 years back was referred by the Department of General Medicine as he was not responding to treatment for spastic paraplegia and was venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) reactive. The patient had characteristic clinical features of tabes dorsalis except Charcot's arthropathy, dribbling incontinence and visceral crises. Serum VDRL was 1:32 and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) VDRL was 1:4. CSF analysis showed increased lymphocytes and protein. Though tabes dorsalis is a rarity now compared to the pre-antibiotic era, one may come across few cases presenting with variable manifestations, more so in the era of human immunodeficiency virus infection. Therefore, awareness of the florid manifestations of tabes dorsalis is necessary for early diagnosis and proper treatment of this disabling condition.

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The origin of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has puzzled scientists ever since the illness first came to light in the early 1980s. For over 25 years it has been the subject of fierce debate and the cause of countless arguments. It is now generally accepted that HIV is a descendant of a simian immunodeficiency virus and there are many theories about how this 'zoonosis' originated and how SIV became HIV in humans. Advances in treatment have steadily reduced the morbidity and mortality associated with HIV infection. However, in the low-income, high-prevalence countries, antiretroviral medication has taken a long time to reach the people who actually need it. Access to medication must greatly improve if millions of deaths are to be avoided. HIV is a preventable disease. Unless great progress is made in prevention, the number of people living with HIV will outstrip the resources available for treatment. The search for effective vaccines and microbicides must therefore be one of the very highest priorities. HIV is a global threat. Action needs to be taken to prevent it killing many more millions than those who have already died. This action needs not only to continue, but to be speeded up considerably.

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Presence of genital ulcer disease facilitates human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission and their ­diagnosis is essential for the proper management. Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test is used as a screening test for the diagnosis of syphilis. However, unusual VDRL test results have been reported in HIV-infected persons with syphilis. There are reports showing higher than expected VDRL titers as well as biological false positive in most of the studies. A negative Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) test or VDRL test result may not rule out syphilis in patients with HIV infection. For laboratory confirmation of syphilis, one specific Treponemal test, namely, Fluroscent Treponemal Antibody Absorption (FTA-ABS) test or Treponema Pallidum Haemagglutination Assay (TPHA) should be done along with VDRL. In the present study, 88 HIV-seropositive patients with history of high-risk behaviour were screened for syphilis by VDRL test. Out of these 88 cases, 42 (47.7%) patients were positive for TPHA and eight (9.1%) patients were reactive for VDRL in various titers. All the eight patients who were reactive for VDRL test were also positive for TPHA test. Persons with HIV infection acquired through sexual route should be screened for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and all patients with STIs should be counselled for HIV testing. This will help in proper management of patients having STIs and HIV coinfection.

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Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are an important cause of morbidity in pediatric patients. The purpose for carrying out the present study is to study the clinico-epidemiological profile of pediatric patients attending the STD clinic of Civil Hospital Ahmedabad. Out of total 1870 patients with various STDs, 37 (1.98%) were children below 15 years of age. Males comprised of 29 (78.4%) cases. The majority of the patients 26 (70.3%) with STDs belonged to the age group of 11-15 years. Herpes progenitalis was the most common STD reported in 35.1% of cases, followed by syphilis (32.4%), and condyloma acuminata (10.8%). History of homosexual contact was reported in 43.2% of cases while child sex abuse (CSA) was reported in 27% of cases. Two cases were seropositive for HIV.

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The study aims to find out the knowledge and understanding of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in 1,200 randomly selected women in the age group of 15-45 years, of 16 villages belonging to Villupuram Health Unit District, Tamil Nadu, India, using a two-stage sampling design. Data collection was done in the period from August to November 2001, using both qualitative and quantitative methods. In all, 28% of the women had not heard of AIDS at all. More than one-third of the women who had heard of AIDS considered AIDS as a serious illness; and among them, 72% ranked AIDS as the number one killer disease. The main findings showed that the rural women's knowledge was poor in areas like cause, symptoms and prevention. Level of literacy of the women was significantly associated with their knowledge of HIV/AIDS ( P <0.05), showing that literates had better knowledge than illiterates. Also, there were misconceptions and false beliefs about cause and spread of the infection, which were found to be more prevalent among illiterates. Television was found to be the major source of knowledge on AIDS among both literates and illiterates. This study suggests a need for innovative, group-based repeated education on AIDS, particularly for rural women, in order to impart better knowledge and understanding on AIDS.

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