ulcers in a primary health clinic in Rwanda: impact of HIV infection on diagnosis and ulcer healing (1986-1992)

Abstract

During 1986-88 and 1990-92, 1025 (97%) out of 1057 genital ulcer patients in Kigali, Rwanda, were tested for HIV antibodies and for infection with Treponema pallidum, Haemophilus ducreyi and herpes simplex virus. Overall, 57% of men and 80% of women had antibodies to HIV-1. The most frequent laboratory diagnoses were chancroid (27%), syphilis (19%) and genital herpes (19%) among men and syphilis (35%), genital herpes (23%) and chancroid (20%) among women. HIV-1 seroprevalence increased sharply over time among men but not among women. The clinical presentation of ulcers as well as laboratory diagnoses were similar in the HIV-1 seropositive and seronegative groups. The relative frequency of all laboratory diagnoses remained unchanged over time. HIV-1 seropositivity had no impact on ulcer healing. Advanced immunodeficiency was diagnosed among 12% of the HIV-1 seropositive patients and was significantly associated with increasing age and genital herpes.

Increasing prevalence of genital herpes in developing countries: implications for heterosexual HIV transmission and STI control programmes

“…In Rwanda the prevalence of culture confirmed HSV in HIV positive patients with GUD increased from 11% in 1986-8 to 21% in 1990-1992. 71 In Nigeria, the prevalence of HSV-2 antibodies in female sex workers ranged from 25% in 1978 in Ibadan 72 to 59% in Lagos in 1990/1.…”

Health Care Seeking Among Men With Genital Ulcer Disease in South Africa: Correlates and Relationship to Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 and Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Detection and Shedding

“…Other studies have documented high HIV incidence among men with GUD. [23][24][25][26] This is a key population in which to intervene as part of an HIV prevention strategy. It is important that men are tested for HIV during a clinical encounter for GUD.…”

Chancroid: contemporary appraisal

“…Prostitutes and subjects predisposed to poor hygiene are its common targets, and the 18–45‐year‐old age group is the most vulnerable. Its epidemiology, thus far available from across the world, has focused attention on the incidence and prevalence of chancroid 19–25 . A serologic survey of H. ducreyi (chancroid), Treponema palidam (syphilis) and herpes simplex (HSV‐2) was correlated by Dada et al 19 .…”

“…Its epidemiology, thus far available from across the world, has focused attention on the incidence and prevalence of chancroid. [19][20][21][22][23][24][25] A serologic survey of H. ducreyi (chancroid), Treponema palidam (syphilis) and herpes simplex (HSV-2) was correlated by Dada et al . 19 in female sex workers in Lagos, Nigeria.…”