Venereology Explained

Venereologist
Official Names:
  • Physician
Type:Specialty
Activity Sector:Medicine
Formation:
Employment Field:Hospitals, Clinics

Venereology is a branch of medicine that is concerned with the study and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The name derives from Roman goddess Venus, associated with love, beauty and fertility. A physician specializing in venereology is called a venereologist.[1] In many areas of the world, the specialty is usually combined with dermatology.[2]

The venereal diseases include bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections.[3] 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.[4]

In India, formal training of venereologists started in 1910, prompting microscopy and serology to come into general use throughout the Empire. Before this, many cases of early syphilis were either diagnosed as chancroid or missed altogether. To come to a diagnosis, doubtful atypical cases were at times left untreated to see whether they developed secondary syphilis.[5]

Five classical venereal diseases

In the early part of the twentieth century, the medical science of venereology encompassed only the five classical venereal diseases: gonorrhea, syphilis, chancroid, lymphogranuloma venereum, and granuloma inguinale (donovanosis).[6] [7] The history of virology shows that, in the first decade of the 20th century, viruses were not well understood.

References

  1. Web site: Venerologist . . 2 December 2018.
  2. Web site: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venerology . Wiley . 2 December 2018.
  3. Web site: List of all STDs and their Symptoms. 28 March 2017.
  4. Web site: What you need to know about STDs . Medical News Today . 2 December 2018.
  5. Venerology in India . Indian Journal of Dermatology . 56 . 4 . 363–7 . 10.4103/0019-5154.84713 . 21965840 . 3178995 . 2011 . Thappa . Devindermohan . Sivaranjini . Ramassamy . free .
  6. Book: Sexually Transmitted Diseases: An Overview and Perspective on the Next Decade by King K. Holmes. 3–20. https://books.google.com/books?id=HuavPdM9z-cC&pg=PA3. Sexually Transmitted Diseases: 1980 Status Report. 1981. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health.
  7. 31295214. 2019. Stoner. B. P.. Fraze. J.. Rietmeijer. C. A.. Dyer. J.. Gandelman. A.. Hook Ew. 3rd. Johnston. C.. Neu. N. M.. Rompalo. A. M.. Bolan. G.. National Network of STD Clinical Prevention Training Centers. The National Network of Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinical Prevention Training Centers Turns 40-A Look Back, a Look Ahead. Sexually Transmitted Diseases. 46. 8. 487–492. 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001018. 6713229.

External links