Herpes zoster and HIV infection in Tanzania. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2000. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Herpes zoster and HIV infection in Tanzania.

Int J STD AIDS. 2000 Apr;11(4):254-6. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/20233044
Naburi AE; Leppard B; Regional Dermatology Training Centre, Kilimanjaro Christian; Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania.

Abstract: Two hundred consecutive patients with herpes zoster attending the skin clinic at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) were examined and checked for HIV infection. They ranged in age from 10 months to 86 years with the majority in their 20s and 30s. The dermatomes involved were thoracic (97), trigeminal (50), cervical (37), lumbar (19) and sacral (3). Six (3%) had more than one dermatome involved and 2 (1%) had disseminated disease. Only 2 (1%) had severe ulceration of the skin and all healed in less than 4 weeks. In children under the age of 10 years and in adults between the ages of 20 and 49 years virtually 100% were HIV positive; even in the age group 50-59 more than three-quarters were HIV positive. We conclude that the presence of herpes zoster at any site is a good indication that the patient is HIV positive except in the teens and the very elderly.
Keywords: JOURNAL ARTICLE Adolescence Adult Aged Aged, 80 and over Child Child, Preschool Female Herpes Zoster/*EPIDEMIOLOGY Human HIV Infections/*EPIDEMIOLOGY Infant Male Middle Age Tanzania/EPIDEMIOLOGY

KWDjournalarticleadolescenceadultagedaged,80andoverchildchild,preschoolfemaleherpeszoster/KWDepidemiologyhumanhivinfections/KWDepidemiologyinfantmalemiddleagetanzania/epidemiology
000930
A0091504

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