Incidence of HIV among Herpes Zoster patients in Khartoum dermatology and venereal disease teaching hospital  from April 2018 to April 2019

Nusayba Mohamed Salih Mohamed; Namarig Fadlelseid Ahmed; Rania Ali Sidahmed

doi:10.18203/issn.2455-4529.IntJResDermatol20263691

Authors

Nusayba Mohamed Salih Mohamed Dermatology Department, Medical Services Qatar, Doha, Qatar
Namarig Fadlelseid Ahmed Ram Medical Clinics Com, Yanbu, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Rania Ali Sidahmed Medical Services Qatar, Doha, Qatar

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/issn.2455-4529.IntJResDermatol20263691

Keywords:

HIV, Herpes zoster, Dermatology

Abstract

Background: Herpes zoster (HZ) results from reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus and is associated with ageing and impaired cell-mediated immunity, including HIV infection. Aim was to estimate the proportion of HIV-positive patients among Sudanese adults presenting with HZ.

Methods: A prospective, hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Khartoum Dermatology and Venereal Disease Teaching Hospital from April 2018 to April 2019. Sixty adults with clinically diagnosed HZ were enrolled and screened for HIV using rapid diagnostic kits. Demographic and clinical information was collected using a structured questionnaire.

Results: The participants had a mean age of 37.1±9.9 years; 29 (48.3%) were male and 31 (51.7%) were female. Thirty-one participants (51.7%) were aged 25-45 years. The trunk was the most frequent rash site, occurring in 35 participants (58.3%). Twenty-five (41.7%) reported headache and/or fever during the prodromal period. All 60 participants tested negative for HIV. Prodromal symptoms were significantly associated with rash distribution (p<0.001).

Conclusions: No HIV infection was detected in this sample of patients with HZ. The result should be interpreted cautiously because of the small sample size and single-centre design. Larger studies from several Sudanese regions are needed.

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