Changing patterns and progress in venereology

Abstract This paper provides a summary of the philosophy of modern concepts on venereology, the control and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). There is a basis in professional education, based on evidence based medicine. From that follows a much wider dissemination to the public on the personal and community aspects of STIs. The World Wide Web has had profound effects on rapid developments in this field. STIs are more frequent in some groups in the general population. Epidemiological trends in STIs from the United States and Europe are described. Interventions to prevent the spread of STIs not only by changing personal preventive behavior but through research based on applied medical science, such as developments in chemotherapy and vaccines, already efficacious to prevent hepatitis A and B and some genital human papilloma virus infections, should be pursued. Venereology, as a major component of dermatovenereology, not only encompasses all of pathology, internal medicine, and therapeutics, but also, most importantly, sexual behavior and its consequences as part of humanity. It also has a major role in community medicine and public health, where the world of medicine meets politics and the media. Sexually transmitted infections have always affected human beings. If STIs are not prevented, not only are there the immediate consequences requiring medical intervention, but also long term results of chronic morbidity, such as infertility in women and congenital syphilis, and in some instances, such as syphilis, viral hepatitis, genital human papilloma virus infection and its neoplastic sequaelae, and HIV/AIDS, an early death.