Cutaneous manifestations of HIV in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa

Mucocutaneous Manifestations Among HIV-Infected Patients in Madagascar: Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

More than 90% of HIV-infected patients present with at least one mucocutaneous manifestation during the course of their disease. Insufficient data are available regarding dermatologic findings among HIV-infected patients in Madagascar.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed at evaluating the spectrum of mucocutaneous manifestations and their relationship with CD4 cell counts in HIV-infected patients in Madagascar.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study on HIV-positive patients attending the Department of Infectious Diseases in the University Hospital of Antananarivo in Madagascar was conducted from January 2013 to March 2020. HIV-positive patients older than 18 years and receiving antiretroviral therapy as well as those awaiting antiretroviral therapy commencement were included.

RESULTS

Among 328 patients enrolled in this study, 167 (51%) presented with at least one type of mucocutaneous lesion. Oral candidiasis was the most common presentation, followed by seborrheic dermatitis and Kaposi sarcoma. Decreases in CD4 cell counts were substantially correlated with oral candidiasis, syphilis, and condyloma acuminatum.

CONCLUSIONS

According to our findings, oral candidiasis, syphilis, and condyloma acuminatum may serve as clinical indicators for predicting the immune status of patients. As HIV infection progressed and immune function declined, an increase in cutaneous manifestations was observed.

The prevalence and spectrum of mucocutaneous disease in South African people living with HIV and accessing care at a district-level hospital

Background

Although the association between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and mucocutaneous diseases has been well studied within South African specialist centres, there is limited data from district-level hospitals. Available data may, therefore, fail to reflect the prevalence and full spectrum of dermatoses seen in people living with HIV (PLWH).

Objectives

To determine the prevalence and spectrum of dermatoses seen in PLWH.

Method

We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive study of 970 PLWH (men and women, ≥ 18 years old) accessing care at Karl Bremer Hospital, a district-level hospital located in the Western Cape province, South Africa, between 01 September 2016 and 28 February 2017.

Results

The prevalence of mucocutaneous disease in this sample was 12.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.11–0.15). Non-infectious dermatoses comprised 71.0% of the disorders. Pruritic papular eruption (20.0%) and seborrheic dermatitis (6.0%) were the most common non-infectious dermatoses. Tinea corporis (8.0%) and oral candidiasis (6.0%) were the most prevalent infectious dermatoses. There was no significant association between skin disease category (infectious or non-infectious dermatoses) and patient demographics (gender and ethnicity) or HIV-disease characteristics (CD4+ cell count, viral load and duration of antiretroviral therapy [ART]).

Conclusion

This study provides valuable scientific data on the prevalence and spectrum of mucocutaneous disease in PLWH attending a South African district-level hospital. Prospective studies conducted in other district-level centres across the country are required to determine the lifetime prevalence and spectrum of dermatoses in PLWH in the ART era.

[Epidemiological aspects of cutaneous mycosis of HIV-infected patients in the National Referral Center of Burkina Faso, West Africa]

AIM

Our study aimed to analyze the epidemiological aspects of cutaneous mycosis in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a descriptive study of 382 patients living with HIV. Following an investigation into the risk factors, mycological samples have been performed. Each sample underwent direct examination and cultivation for the identification of fungal species. The Blastese test is used for the identification of Candida albicans.

RESULTS

One hundred and six (106) of the 382 people living with human immunodeficiency virus undergo a mycological collection of which 76 gave a positive result. The overall prevalence of cutaneous mycosis was 19.9 %. It was significantly higher in women and in patients who had a CD4 count ≤500/mm3. C. albicans and Trichophyton rubrum were the most isolated species with 22.4 and 19.8 % of all fungal species isolated, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Cutaneous mycoses are common among people living with human immunodeficiency virus and whose CD4 count ≤ 500/mm(3).

HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa

The impact that HIV/AIDS has made on modern society is unquestionable. It has ravaged societies across the globe without the discrimination. It has swept across the globe like no other plague in human history, leaving nothing in its path untouched. Like all catastrophes, the havoc wreaked by HIV/AIDS most impacts people living in the poorest nations of the world. This article deals with the impact of HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.