[Incidence and management of condylomata acuminata by French general physicians]

Abstract

Objectives: Condylomata acuminata (or genital warts) are sexually transmitted diseases caused by human papillomavirus. Until now, there has been no available epidemiologic data about this disease in France. We conducted a prospective study among French general practitioners (GPs) to estimate the incidence of consultations for external condylomata acuminata in general practice. We also assessed the management of patients with external condylomata acuminata by French GP's.

Design: A panel of French general practitioners, members of the Sentinel network, had to fill-in prospectively a questionnaire for each patient with condylomata acuminata diagnosed between July and November 2000.

Results: The annual number of consultations for external condylomata acuminata with French GP's was estimated at 23,000 (CI (95 p. 100) 21,000-25,000) including 15,000 new cases (CI (95 p. 100) 13,000-17,000). Taking into account the estimations we made at the same time in office-based private dermatologists, we estimated the annual incidence of external condylomata acuminata in France at 107/100 000 inhabitants. The management of patients with external condylomata acuminata by French GP's was in accordance with the European guidelines in 54 to 78 p. 100 of cases. French GP's mostly prescribed chemical treatment.

Discussion: A proportion of cases of condylomata acuminata may have not been diagnosed. Similarly, some lesions may have been wrongly diagnosed as condylomata acuminata, but these proportions of false positive and false negative remain unknown. The incidence of external condylomata acuminata in France is similar to those estimated in others developed countries.