Fifty-five patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) seen at the Dermatology outpatient clinic and who had mucocutaneous diseases were studied. These diseases, some of them opportunistic, are common but difficult to diagnose given the atypical features of the lesions. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyse the frequency and clinical presentation of dermatoses related to Aids seen at the Dermatology outpatient clinic. METHODS: Fifty-five patients with Aids and mucocutaneous lesions were examined from 1995 to 1997 in a cross-sectional study carried out at the Dermatology outpatient clinic of the Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (Minas Gerais, Brazil). Biopsies and cultures were undertaken for laboratory diagnosis. RESULTS: One hundred sixteen dermatoses were diagnosed. Fungal infections (78%) were the commonest among them, followed by viral infections (40%), papulosquamous disorders (27%), papular eruptions (18%), adverse drug reactions (10 %), tumors (9%) and a variety of others (7%). The majority of the patients (67%) had more than one type of skin disorder. CONCLUSIONS: In agreement with previous literature data fungal and viral infections were confirmed as the most frequent skin disorders in HIV-positive patients. Dermatological examination, laboratory tests and skin biopsy for histopathological study are necessary for appropriate diagnostic investigation of HIV-related mucocutaneous diseases considering that atypical presentation occurs in a large proportion of the patients.
Aids; Skin diseases
