HIV infection/AIDS and the Skin (For professionals)

Dr Christophe HSU – dermatologist. Geneva, Switzerland

• HIV is a global pandemic caused by infection by the HIV virus. It affects more than 30 million individuals world wide. Around 70% of individuals affected live in Sub-Saharan Africa, around 20% of individuals live in South and South-East Asia.
• Untreated the median survival ranges from 9-11 years whereas antiviral (HAART: Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy) treatments have prolonged the median survival to 20 years.
• To read more about HIV/AIDS, click here.

Below is the list of skin lesions which are associated with HIV infection (regardless of the stage):

• Acquired Ichtyosis
• Adverse Drug reactions (Antibiotics, Antiviral therapy)
• Aphtous oral lesions
• Eosinophilic folliculitis
• Granuloma Annulare
• Hyperpigmentation
• Immune Restoration Syndrome (Antiviral therapy)
• Lipodystrophy (Antiviral therapy)
• Paronychia (Antiviral therapy)
• Photodermatoses (Porphyria Cutanea Tarda (PCT), lichenoid phodermatitis, chronic actinic dermatitis)
• Pruritus (Itch)
• Psoriasis
• Reiter’s syndrome
• Seborrheic (Seborrhoeic) dermatitis
• Xerosis

• Skin Cancers

1. Kaposi’s Sarcoma (due to Human Herpesvirus (HHV 8))
2. Lymphoma
3. Squamous Cell Carcinoma

• Infectious diseases

1. Bacterial: Staphylococcus Aureus, Syphilis (Treponema Pallidum), Bacillary Angiomatosis (Bartonella Henselae, B. Quintana)
2. Fungal: Candida (Oropharyngeal Candidiasis), Penicillum Marneffei, Dermatophytosis (Epidermophyton, Trichophyton, Microsporum), Crytococcosis (Cryptococcus Neoformans), Histoplasmosis (Histoplasma Capsulatum)
3. Viral: Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Molluscum Contagiosum, Herpes simplex virus (HSV), Varicella-Zoster virus (VZV) (Shingles), Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)(Oral Hairy Leukoplakia)
4. Insects: Scabies

Contributors:

Dr Christophe HSU – dermatologist. Geneva, Switzerland

Bibliography:

Dermatology Secrets 3rd Edition

Wikipedia