Cutaneous manifestations in HIV seropositive male prisoners in Kermanshah

Background: To get accustomed with cutaneous manifestations related to AIDS is effective in early diagnosis of this disease. Objective: To evaluate the cutaneous manifestations in HIV seropositive patients. Patients and Methods: A prospective, descriptive and cross-sectional study was performed on HIV-positive male prisoners in Kermanshah central prison and in addiction camp, referred to skin disease center of Kermanshah University, during eleven months; and their cutaneous manifestations were analyzed. Results: 43 out of 79 patients (54.4%) had mucocutaneous manifestations. 26 patients (32.9%) had herpes zoster infection. Two patients (4.6%) developed recurrent herpes zoster and five patients (11.6%) showed wide scar in low back area and shoulder because of previous herpes zoster. Other manifestations included acne (23.3%), generalized pruritus (11.6%) and oral herpes simplex infection, scabies and tinea versicolor in few cases. The majority of patients (32.6%) were in the age group of 30-34 years. Conclusion: The most common cutaneous disease in this study was herpes zoster. Herpes zoster infection in patients without any obvious risk factor could be a predictor of probable HIV infection.