Venereology

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]

For the album by Merzbow, see Venereology (album). For the journal, see Venereology (journal).
Venereologist
Occupation
Names
  • Physician
Occupation type
Specialty
Activity sectors
Medicine
Description
Education required
Fields of
employment
Hospitals, Clinics

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.

In the early 1960s there were approximately six STDs described in textbooks and very little research was happening in sexually transmitted infections. In fact, there were not many medical centers where clinical care was offered for patients with STDs, who were left with few resources.[8]

References
  1. "Venerologist". The Free Dictionary. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  2. "Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venerology". Wiley. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  3. "List of all STDs and their Symptoms". 28 March 2017.
  4. "What you need to know about STDs". Medical News Today. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  5. Thappa, Devindermohan; Sivaranjini, Ramassamy (2011). "Venerology in India". Indian Journal of Dermatology. 56 (4): 363–7. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.84713. PMC 3178995. PMID 21965840.
  6. "Sexually Transmitted Diseases: An Overview and Perspective on the Next Decade by King K. Holmes". Sexually Transmitted Diseases: 1980 Status Report. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health. 1981. pp. 3–20.
  7. 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 (2019). "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. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001018. PMC 6713229. PMID 31295214.
  8. "King K. Holmes, John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award 2013". Canada Gairdner Foundation.


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