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Published on: October 12, 2018
[HIV infection prevalence in patients having cutaneous pathology in a National Reference Center (2005-2006)]
Luisa Porras de Quintana1, Margarita Tamayo-Buendía, Guillermo Sánchez-Vanegas
1Centro Dermatológico Federico Lleras Acosta, Bogotá, Colombia.
Insights
The study found that patients with Molluscum contagiosum have a nearly 4 times higher risk of undiagnosed HIV infection compared to other skin conditions. This highlights the importance of screening for HIV in patients with specific dermatoses.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Cutaneous diseases are common in patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
- Early diagnosis of HIV is crucial for effective management and prevention of transmission.
- Prevalence of undiagnosed HIV in patients with skin conditions varies globally.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of HIV infection among patients with cutaneous diseases.
- To identify specific dermatological conditions associated with a higher risk of undiagnosed HIV.
- To assess the association between Molluscum contagiosum and HIV infection in Colombia.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 1,649 adult patients with cutaneous pathology and no prior HIV diagnosis.
- HIV diagnosis confirmed by ELISA and Western blot tests.
- Prevalence calculated as confirmed cases divided by total population; associations measured using prevalence ratio.
Main Results:
- Overall HIV prevalence was 1.21% (20 cases).
- Molluscum contagiosum (3.91%) and seborrheic dermatitis (2.05%) showed the highest prevalence of undiagnosed HIV.
- Patients with Molluscum contagiosum had a 3.96 times higher prevalence ratio for HIV infection (p=0.01562).
Conclusions:
- Molluscum contagiosum is a significant indicator for undiagnosed HIV infection in adults.
- Patients with Molluscum contagiosum face a substantially higher risk of HIV.
- Dermatologists should consider HIV screening for patients presenting with Molluscum contagiosum.
Objective:
Determining the prevalence of HIV infection in patients suffering from cutaneous disease in a national reference center in Colombia.
Methods:
This was a cross-sectional study of patients aged 18 or older, having cutaneous pathology and no previous HIV diagnosis. The calculated sample size was 1,537 patients. A confirmed case was defined as being that of a patient having positive results in the ELISA and Western blot tests. Prevalence was the number of confirmed cases divided by the total population. The associations were measured by using prevalence ratio.
Results:
1,649 patients were enrolled in the study. Our center's prevalence was 1.21 % (20 cases). Molluscum contagiosum and seborrheic dermatitis were the diseases having the highest prevalence of HIV infection which had not been previously diagnosed (3.91 % and 2.05 %, respectively). Molluscum contagiosum and HIV infection prevalence ratio was 3.96 (p: 0.01562).
Conclusions:
The risk of HIV infection in patients aged 18 or older suffering from Molluscum contagiosum was nearly 4 times higher than the risk in patients having other cutaneous pathologies.
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