Spectrum and Acquisition of Sexually Transmitted Infections in a Paediatric Cohort at a Tertiary Centre in South India: A Four-Year Retrospective study

Abstract

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in children represent a critical, often overlooked, public health challenge with significant medico-legal and psychosocial dimensions. In India, data on the clinical and epidemiological profile of paediatric STIs, particularly from the southern region, are limited but essential for guiding prevention and care.
Methods: A retrospective, descriptive analysis was conducted of all paediatric patients (age ≤14 years) diagnosed with an STI at the STD clinic of a tertiary care centre from August 2014 to July 2018. Data on demographics, clinical presentation, laboratory findings, and assessed mode of acquisition were extracted and analysed.
Results: Among 10,542 clinic attendees, 91 were children, of whom 52 (0.49% of the total 3,786 STI cases) were diagnosed with an STI. The peak incidence (63.4%) was in early adolescence (11-14 years). HIV/AIDS was the most common diagnosis. Modes of acquisition were: vertical transmission (50%, n=26), sexual contact (11.5%, n=6), probable parenteral route (3.8%, n=2), and other/non-sexual routes (34.6%, n=18). Cases of secondary syphilis and gonorrhoea were documented in adolescent boys reporting homosexual contact.
Conclusion: This series underscores a dual burden: preventable vertical transmissions highlighting gaps in antenatal screening, and infections in adolescents signalling urgent needs for sexual health education and confidential services. A multi-pronged strategy strengthening prevention of parent-to-child transmission, implementing adolescent-friendly interventions, and enhancing clinical vigilance for abuse is imperative.