Characteristics of patients with anogenital wart : an observational and comparative study

الملخص EN

Background: External genital warts (EGW), also known as condyloma acuminata (CA) is caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and is the most frequent sexually transmitted viral infection in the world with a worldwide prevalence range of 5% to 20%.

Objective: The aim of the study is to determine the epidemiologic characteristics of the disease and its relation to abnormal pap smear testing and abnormal serologic testing.

Setting and Methodology: a cross sectional retrospective study conducted at Bahrain Force Defence (BDF) Hospital between November 2012 to December 2017 who attended dermatology clinic for CA.

A total of 3482 patients’ visit were obtained.

With inclusion and exclusion criteria only 195 individuals (112 (57%) females and 83 (43%) males) were included in the study.

Results: Epidemiologic characteristics were found as following; majority were between 26-35 years of age 84 (43%), married 136 (70.47%) and having had the wart for months before seeking dermatologist care 93 (47.7%).

The two most common sites identified were the groin (31.79%) and labia (22.05%).

In female study subjects, 65 underwent pap smear testing of whom 11 tested positives for HPV.

Out of 136 study subjects who were serologically tested for HIV, HBsAg, HCV and VDRL/TPHA, 5 males and 1 female showed positive results for either or a combination.

Conclusion: Educating the public and raising awareness about the EGW could potentially help control its spread by emphasizing earlier doctor visits and educating healthcare workers to develop that habit of screening the patient’s spouse.

Routine screening and serologic testing of patients is recommended to detect high risk sexually transmitted diseases that could be present alongside the EGW.