Herpes zoster and HIV infection in 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.

Cutaneous manifestations of HIV—a detailed study of morphological variants, markers of advanced disease, and the changing spectrum

“…Approximately 25% of HIV patients experience herpes zoster, which has been described as an early indicator of the infection. 18 Our study showed a similar prevalence too.…”

HIV Seropositivity among Patients Presenting with Herpes Zoster Infection

“…In contrast, studies conducted in India reported lower prevalence rates [10,11]. Similar to other studies [11,12] most affected patients were in the age group 25-45 years, representing the most productive and sexually active individuals.…”

“…We found significant association between HIV seropositivity and patient with history of travelling to endemic areas (P=0.029), previous episode of herpes zoster infection (P=0.019), documented previous sexually transmitted infections (P=0.039) and multi-dermatomal involvement (P=0.019) as in different studies [10][11][12]. Half of the study samples were less than 45 years of age with 60% of them residing in Khartoum and 70% of them educated and married 27.5% of patients had previous STIs while only a single patient in the study sample had a previous blood transfusion and only two patients suffered from previous herpes zoster attack Fisher's Exact Test showed significant P value (<0.05) with several variables This study however found no statistically significant association between HIV infection and patients with multiple sexual partners (P=0.055).…”

Current trends of HIV disease of the mouth

“…There is still disagreement as to whether the risk of VZV infection rises as the CD4+ cell count decreases (104, 105). However while the frequency of clinically detectable VZV infection may be similar in both HIV‐infected and non‐HIV infected persons in Africa (104), involvement of the trigeminal nerve may be more common (106) or unique to HIV‐infected patients, at least in this geographic region (104).…”