Recognizing skin lesions of systemic fungal infections in patients with AIDS

Mucocutaneous lesions may be the initial feature or a subsequent manifestation of disseminated systemic fungal infections in patients who are seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). These lesions can be classified by their morphologic appearance as macules, nodules, papules, patches, plaques, pustules or ulcers. Some lesions mimic the morphology of conditions such as herpes simplex, Kaposi's sarcoma and molluscum contagiosum, or present as abscesses, fistulas or purpura. Since the morphologic appearance may vary, a biopsy is necessary for microbiologic cultures and histologic evaluation of any new, unusual or unexplained cutaneous or mucosal lesion that appears in any patient who is seropositive for HIV.