Intolerable pruritis in an HIV-infected man. Clearinghouse, P.O. Box 6003, Rockville, MD 20849-6003. 800-458-5231 ext. 5023.

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1995. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Intolerable pruritis in an HIV-infected man. Clearinghouse, P.O. Box 6003, Rockville, MD 20849-6003. 800-458-5231 ext. 5023.

AIDS Clin Care. 1995 Mar;7(3):23, 26. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE AIDS/95700064
Zuger A

Abstract: Nine out of ten HIV-infected people suffer from dermatologic complaints. Frequently, the morphology of HIV-associated skin lesions is characteristic enough for the clinician to construct an initial diagnosis and initiate a reasonable course of treatment until the diagnosis can be confirmed. However, HIV-associated pruritis can be difficult to diagnose and control. A debilitating itch could indicate eosinophilic, staphylococcal, or idiopathic folliculitis; severe generalisata characteristic of HIV infection; a drug allergy; severe HIV-related dermatophyte infection; or scabies. Scabies, frequently overlooked as a cause of severe pruritis in HIV infection, manifests atypically in HIV-infected individuals. Its spectrum ranges from pruritis with minimal or no cutaneous signs to the widespread, thick, crusted plaques called crusted or Norwegian scabies. Diagnosis requires microscopic inspection of a skin scraping or a biopsy, though response to empiric treatment with antimite agents may also be diagnostic. The frequent need for repeated courses of antimite medication in cases with large mite loads and hyperkeratotic lesions may, however, preclude accurate diagnosis via empiric treatment.

Keywords: Adult Case Report Human HIV Infections/*COMPLICATIONS Insecticides/THERAPEUTIC USE Male Pruritus/*COMPLICATIONS/DRUG THERAPY Pyrethrins/THERAPEUTIC USE Scabies/*COMPLICATIONS/DRUG THERAPY NEWSLETTER ARTICLE
951030
M95A0963

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