Prevalence of dermatological disorders in Thai HIV-infected patients correlated with different CD4 lymphocyte count statuses: a note on 120 cases.

BACKGROUND

Skin disease is one health problem among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seropositive patients. Several dermatological findings in HIV-infected patients have been investigated. In this study, the skin lesions of 120 HIV-infected patients with different CD4 count statuses in Bangkok, Thailand, are studied.

METHODS

This study was performed as a cross-sectional descriptive study. All subjects had a complete physical examination to detect their dermatological disorders and carried out the necessary diagnostic procedures by consultation with the dermatologist.

RESULTS

Eighty percent of all patients were observed to have one or more skin disorders. Xerosis (73.33%) and oral candidiasis (54.17%) were the most common skin disorders, followed by seborrheic dermatitis (46.67%), pruritic papular eruption (36.67%), oral hairy leucoplakia (12.50%), folliculitis (11.67%), herpes zoster (9.17%), and alopecia (6.67%).

CONCLUSION

Although the pattern of cutaneous lesions was comparable with previous reports, the strikingly lower prevalence of skin tumor and drug eruption was reviewed. Patients with advanced HIV infection were found to have significantly more skin disorders than those with early stage HIV.