Abstract
Skin diseases are indicators of HIV/AIDS which correlates with WHO clinical stages. In resource limited environment where CD4 count is not readily available, they can be used in assessing HIV patients. The study aims to determine the mucocutaneous manifestations in HIV positive patients and their correlation with WHO clinical stages. A prospective cross-sectional study of mucocutaneous conditions was done among 215 newly diagnosed HIV patients from June 2008 to May 2012 at adult ART clinic, Wesley Guild Hospital Unit, OAU Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ilesha, Osun State, Nigeria. There were 156 dermatoses with oral/oesophageal/vaginal candidiasis (41.1%), PPE (24.4%), dermatophytic infections (8.9%), and herpes zoster (3.8%) as the most common dermatoses. The proportions of dermatoses were 4.5%, 21.8%, 53.2%, and 20.5% in stages 1–4, respectively. A significant relationship (using Pearson's Chi square with P value <0.05) was obtained between dermatoses and WHO clinical stages. Pearson's correlation coefficient showed a positive correlation between the number of dermatoses and the WHO clinical stages. Dermatoses can therefore serve as diagnostic and prognostic markers in resource limited settings to initiate HAART in clinical stages 3 and 4.
Highlights
The burden of skin disease in developing countries the sub-Saharan Africa is high with a serious impact on the quality of life and resulting loss of productivity at work and school and disfigurement [1,2,3,4]
The presence of skin disease was significantly associated with the clinical stage of the patient
Skin diseases act as indicators of HIV and AIDS
Summary
The burden of skin disease in developing countries the sub-Saharan Africa is high with a serious impact on the quality of life and resulting loss of productivity at work and school and disfigurement [1,2,3,4]. The skin problems here are further compounded by the high prevalence of HIV which commonly causes skin lesions [7]. It was reported that approximately 90% of people living with HIV have skin changes and symptoms during the course of their disease [8]. Skin diseases are significantly higher among HIV positive than HIV negative individuals [9]. Differences in skin pigmentation, climate, hygiene, and genetic, environmental, demographic, and behavioral factors cause different clinical presentations and epidemiologic patterns of HIV-associated skin disease in Africa [10, 11]
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