Cutaneous Manifestation of HIV/AIDS in Sudanese patients

Abstract

The importance of skin manifestations of HIV/ AIDS cannot be overestimated. In a significant number of AIDS patients, skin provides the first clinical signs of the infection and the contribution of dermatology in the early diagnosis of the disease is quite substantial. The onset of immunosuppression after years of infection with HIV may be heralded by the development of various viral, fungal, bacterial and other skin diseases. Depressed immunity impacts subtle or overt differences on the clinical picture of dermatological conditions suggesting to the aware dermatologist the possibility of underlying HIV infection, hence an opportunity of early diagnosis. The literature is replete with reports about the cutaneous manifestations of AIDS and its impact on the clinical picture of coexisting skin diseases [1-4]. The present study is the first of its kind in the Sudan.

Sud J Dermatol Vol.2(2) 2004: 47-53