Dr Prratyush More, a dermatologist and venereologist in Thane West, treats sexually transmitted infections at his Vasant Vihar practice on a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis wherever feasible rather than prescribing antibiotics on suspicion, a practice he links to growing resistance in gonorrhoea and the risk of missing infections that occur together.
Investigations are chosen according to the patient's symptoms and risk profile, from VDRL and TPHA serology for syphilis to HIV ELISA, NAAT testing for chlamydia, culture and sensitivity for gonorrhoea, and HSV PCR from ulcer swabs for genital herpes. Gonorrhoea and chlamydia are tested for together because they frequently co-exist. Treatment follows NACO and WHO guidelines for sexually transmitted infection management.
"The man who gets a strip of tablets from a chemist for a discharge is the man who comes back three weeks later with the same discharge and a resistant bug," said Dr Prratyush More, MBBS, DDVL. "If we test first, we treat the infection he actually has, we check for the one that usually travels with it, and we do not burn through an antibiotic that the next patient might need."
Bacterial infections including syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia and chancroid are curable with the right antibiotic. Viral infections such as genital herpes and HPV are managed with antiviral therapy, procedures such as electrocautery for warts, and suppressive treatment to reduce recurrences. Less common infections, including lymphogranuloma venereum and donovanosis, are also diagnosed and treated at the practice.
Consultations are held in a private room, and findings and results are not disclosed to family, employers, partners or insurers without the patient's explicit consent. Partner notification guidance and prevention counselling, including HPV vaccination advice for eligible patients, are part of each consultation.
Dr More holds a DDVL, a postgraduate qualification in dermatology, venereology and leprosy. Patients can book a confidential venereology consultation at the Thane West practice.
About Dr Prratyush More
Dr Prratyush More, MBBS, DDVL, is a dermatologist practising at Siddhachal Shopping Centre, Pokharan Road No. 2, Vasant Vihar, Thane West, since 2019. His work covers medical dermatology, dermatologic aesthetics and laser procedures, venereology, and hair restoration including FUE hair transplant surgery, for which he trained in Israel in 2018 under Dr Alex Ginzburg.