Pattern of childhood STDs in a major hospital of East Delhi.

Of the 1418 patients with STDs, who attended the STD clinic between January 1996 to December 2000, 50 (3.4%) were children below 14 years of age. Boys (29) were more than girls (21). Syphilis was the most common STD found in these children (46.8%), followed by vulvo-vaginal candidiasis (19.2%), condylomata acuminata (10.6%), gonorrhoea (8.5%), herpes progenitalis (6.4%), chancroid (4.3%), perianal candidosis and perianal molluscum contagiosum (2.1 % each). Three children had more than one STD. A history of sexual abuse could be elicited in 30 children (60%), none of the children were positive of HIV. All children with symptoms pertaining to their genitourinary system should be evaluated thoroughtly for sexual abuse.