PATTERN OF SKIN DISORDERS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH CD 4 T CELL COUNT IN HIV - INFECTED CHILDREN

CONTEXT (BACKGROUND): Skin disorders are common in human immunodeficiency virus infected children.Clinical manifestations can thus facilitate in identifying patient's immune status.The prevalence and pattern of skin disorders in HIV-infected children was determined to understand the relationship between CD4 T cell count and various skin disorders.AIMS: To study the skin manifestations and their relationship with CD4 T cell counts among HIV/AIDS patients of pediatric age group.SETTINGS: Department of Dermatology, Venereology, Leprology, Ujjain. DESIGN: Observational Study, METHODS AND MATERIAL:A total of 156 HIV-positive/AIDS cases were studied over a period of twelve months i. e., February 2013 to January 2014.A detailed history covering all relevant points was recorded in all cases.Each patient underwent a thorough general, physical, systemic, dermatological and venereological examination.13 out of 156 cases were in the age group of 3 months to 15 years and were identified with different forms of skin disorders.All relevant investigations were done.The results were compiled and data analyzed.STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) v. 21 for windows and Chi-square test was used.RESULTS: Out of these 13 cases, 8(61.5%) were males and 5 (38.4%) were females.Maximum number of children were within the age group of 12-15 years.Mother to child transmission (84.6%) was the most frequent mode of transmission in these children.The most common skin manifestations in the study patients were papular pruritic eruptions, scabies, papular urticaria, oral and vulval candidiasis.Few less common ones were herpes zoster, scrofuloderma, verruca vulgaris, aphthous stomatitis, pitriasis alba, seborrheic dermatitis and furunculosis.Long eyelashes was present among the hair manifestations.The mean CD4 T cell count was 464.04cells/cumm.CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of skin disorder is common in HIV-infected children with pruritic papular eruption, scabies, papular urticaria and candidiasis were the commonest manifestations, which significantly correlates with degree of immune suppression.