Venereology is a branch of medicine that is concerned with the study and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases. The name derives from the Roman goddess Venus, associated with love, beauty and fertility. A physician specializing in venereology is called a venereologist. In many areas of the world, the specialty is usually combined with dermatology.
The venereal diseases include bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections. Some of the important diseases are HIV infection, syphilis, gonorrhea, candidiasis, herpes simplex, human papillomavirus infection, and genital scabies. Other sexually transmitted infections studied in the field include chancroid, lymphogranuloma venereum, granuloma inguinale, hepatitis B, and cytomegalovirus infection.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), also referred to as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), are infections that are commonly spread by sexual activity, especially vaginal intercourse, anal sex and oral sex. STIs often do not initially cause symptoms, which results in a greater risk of passing the disease on to others. Symptoms and signs of STIs may include vaginal discharge, penile discharge, ulcers on or around the genitals, and pelvic pain. STIs can be transmitted to an infant before or during childbirth, which may result in poor outcomes for the infant. Some STIs can cause infertility.
IN INDIA, FORMAL TRAINING OF VENEROLOGISTS STARTED IN 1910, PROMPTING MICROSCOPY AND SEROLOGY TO COME INTO THE GENERAL USE THROUGHOUT THE EMPIRE. BEFORE THIS, MANY CASES OF EARLY SYPHILIS WERE EITHER DIAGNOSED AS CHNCROID OR MISSED ALTHOGEHTER. TO COME TO A DIAGNOSIS, DOUBTFUL ATYPICAL CASES WERE AT TIMES LEFT UNTREATED TO SEE WHETHER THEY DEVELOPED SECONDARY SYPHILIS....Read More