Prevalence of Skin Diseases in Children with Human Immunodeficiency Syndrome Infection in Paediatric HIV Clinic of A Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: HIV infection/AIDS being a multi-systemic disease affects the skin at various stages in course of the illness. A knowledge of the common skin diseases associated with HIV infection can lead to early detection, appropriate staging and commencement of appropriate care in the infected patients.

OBJECTIVE: The study was to document the prevalence and pattern of skin diseases in children with HIV infection seen at the Paediatric department of a tertiary centre in Nigeria.

METHODS: HIV positive children attending the PEPFAR HIV clinic of Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria were examined for the presence of skin lesions. Anthropometric measurements were also obtained. Blood samples Were taken for CD4+ cell count, viral load and full blood count.

RESULTS: Two hundred and fourteen (214) patients were studied, consisting of 107 HIV infected children and 107 uninfected children as controls. Skin lesions were observed in 89 (83%) of the HIV infected patients, while only 72 uninfected controls had skin lesions. (p = 0.035). The predominant skin disease in the HIV infected children was Pruritic papular eruption (PPE) with a frequency of 25.9%, followed by fungal infections (24.6%). Herpes zoster was found only in HIV infected children (p = 0.041). There was a strong correlation between the degree of immunosuppression (as reflected by the value of age dependent CD4+ cell count/CD4+ percentage). and the prevalence of skin disease in the HIV infected patients. The presence of pruritic papular eruptions and Herpes zoster was associated with advanced immunosuppression.

CONCLUSION: Skin diseases are common in HIV infection in our environment. Early detection of HIV infection can be made in the presence of skin diseases like Pruritic papular eruption and Herpes zoster.