Prevalence of nonvenereal genital dermatoses in patients attending tertiary care center.

Abstract

Background: Nonvenereal genital dermatoses (NVGD) are dermatological conditions that can mimic sexually transmitted infections (STIs), leading to misdiagnosis and unnecessary anxiety.

Objective: The objective is to determine the prevalence of NVGD.

Materials and methods: This was an observational, descriptive study conducted in the Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology, Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Medical College and Hospital, Tamil Nadu.

Results: During the 12-month study, 350 patients (2.4%) presented with genital complaints. Among them, 106 (30.3%) were diagnosed with STIs, while 244 (69.7%) had NVGD and were enrolled in the study. The overall prevalence of NVGD was found to be 69% among patients presented with genital complaints. The most affected age group was 31-40 years (32.0%). The mean age of patients was 39.1 years. Males (52.9%) were slightly more affected than females (47.1%). Most patients (56.6%) were from rural areas, and 60.3% were married. Infections and infestations were the most common NVGD category (34.8%), with scabies (13.1%) and tinea cruris (13.1%) being the predominant conditions. Eczematous disorders accounted for 20.1%, primarily lichen simplex chronicus (13.9%). Sclerosing disorders, mainly lichen sclerosus, were more frequent in females (15.7%) than males (6.2%). Other conditions included pigmentary disorders (8.6%), physiological conditions (8.6%), papulosquamous disorders (5.3%), lichenoid disorders (4.1%), and drug reactions (4.1%). Malignancies were rare (0.8%), with only two cases of squamous cell carcinoma. Vascular lesions (1.2%) and miscellaneous conditions (1.6%) were also observed.

Conclusion: This study highlights the significant burden of NVGD, emphasizing the need for awareness, accurate diagnosis, and appropriate management to prevent misdiagnosis and psychological distress.