The prevalence of skin disease in HIV infection

The frequency of skin problems in patients with HIV infection and AIDS is well known from clinical experience and from the reports of cohorts of patients followed over months and years. Decreased mucocutaneous immunity often accounts for the earliest clinical signs seen in HIV-infected patients. As HIV disease progresses, these skin manifestations may become more severe and varied. In advanced immunosuppression, opportunistic pathogens may present as atypical cutaneous lesions. The following two cases illustrate a number of important points in relation to the management of skin disease in HIV patients.