Prevalence of concomitant sexually transmitted infections in Goroka.

During 18 months all 339 patients attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic in Goroka, Papua New Guinea had serological tests for syphilis carried out. The clinical diagnosis of syphilis made in 60 patients by the paramedical staff of the clinic was confirmed by both VDRL and TPHA tests in 52%. Concomitant syphilis was diagnosed on serological grounds in 16% with ulcerative lesions, 4% with a urethral discharge and 6% of subjects with other conditions. A total of 7% of patients subsequently diagnosed serologically to have syphilis, left the clinic untreated, and because of logistical reasons, few could later be traced.