Mucocutaneous manifestations in hepatitis C patients

To determine the frequency and nature of mucocutaneous manifestations in hepatitis C virus [HCV] positive patients. Two hundred and five HCV positive patients presenting at the outpatient and inpatient departments of Services Hospital, Lahore were evaluated for mucocutaneous manifestations. Relevant data regarding history, clinical examination including cutaneous system and investigations were documented and analyzed. Mean age of patients was 36.6 +/- 11.0 years. There were 84 [41%] males and 121 [59%] females. 73.7% cases were exposed to antiviral therapy. Dermatological manifestations were present in 88.3% patients with HCV infection. Pruritus was the most common finding seen in 39.5% followed by hyperpigmentation of skin 34.1%, lichen planus 18%, lingual/buccal pigmentation 13.2%, melanonychia 12.7% and urticaria 6.8%. Less frequent features were palmar erythema, photosensitivity and cutaneous vasculitis. Dermatological manifestations may appear as an earliest sign of hepatitis C infection. Therefore, vigilant detection and careful investigation can prevent the complications and further spread of this dreadful disease

Spectrum of periorbital dermatoses in South Indian population.

Background: Periorbital dermatoses are very common dermatological disorders which pose a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for the treating dermatologist due to the similarity of symptoms in this area. Aims: To study the spectrum of periorbital dermatoses and to assess the association of systemic diseases with periorbital dermatoses. Methods: This was a hospital based descriptive study done on 250 consecutive patients irrespective of their age and sex who attended the Dermatology out patient department (OPD), with dermatological conditions pertaining to the periorbital area over a period of 2 years from October 2010 to September 2012. Results: The most common dermatological conditions seen in the periorbital region were benign and malignant skin tumors observed in 63 (25.2%) cases, followed by the disorders of pigmentation in 51 (20.4%) and eczema in 44 cases (17.6%), infections in 33 (13.2%) cases and nevoid conditions in 26 (10.4%) cases. Certain periorbital dermatoses were significantly more in females than in males in the present study like skin tags, connective tissue diseases, and periorbital melanosis (POM). Some periorbital dermatoses were significantly more common in older age group such as seborrheic keratoses, skin tags and airborne contact dermatitis whereas infections, syringomas, allergic contact dermatitis and atopic dermatitis were more prevalent in younger age group. Syringomas and POM were more common in middle-aged women. Conclusions: The most common dermatological condition seen in the periorbital region in this study are benign skin tumors (keratosis and skin tags), followed by the disorders of pigmentation and eczema, infections and nevoid conditions.

Epidemiological and oral manifestations of HIV-positive patients in a specialized service in Brazil

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of oral lesions in HIV-positive patients attending the Specialized Service for Infectious-contagious Diseases and Parasitoses of the Health Secretariat of the State of Pará (URE-DIPE/SESPA), in the city of Belém, PA, Brazil. A total of 79 HIV-positive patients (53 males and 26 females) were examined. Clinical and epidemiological evaluations were done by correlating the lesions with gender, race, chronological age, risk behavior and prevailing immune status (CD4+ cells count). Lesion location and the presence of associated factors, such as alcohol use, smoking and denture wearing, were quantified individually for each type of lesion using a diagnostic pattern based on the clinical aspects. Approximately 47% of the patients (n=37) presented some type of oral lesion. Candidiasis (28%) and periodontal disease (28%) were the most common, followed by cervical-facial lymphadenopathy (17.5%). Other lesions observed were hairy leukoplakia, melanin hyperpigmentation, ulcerative stomatitis (aphthous), herpes simplex, frictional keratosis and pyogenic granuloma. This analysis presented some relevance as to the statistical data. Concerning CD4+ cells, most lesions manifested with the reduction of the CD count. There were a larger number of HIV-positive female heterosexual patients. Alcohol and/or smoking were strongly associated with the occurrence of hairy leukoplakia in these patients. Candidiasis and periodontal disease were the most common oro-regional clinical manifestations in the patients.

Manifestaciones bucales e infecciones oportunistas mas frecuentes encontradas en 208 pacientes con infección por VIH/SIDA / Most frequent oral manifestations and oportunistic infections found in 208 patients with HIV/AIDS infection

La historia natural de la infección por VIH/SIDA ha sido descrita como un deterioro insidioso y progresivo del sistema inmune; generalmente esto se acompaña con el reconocimiento de algunas manifestaciones bucales; las mismas son de gran importancia porque podrÝan representar el primer signo de esta enfermedad. El propósito de este estudio fue determinar los tipos y la prevalencia de lesiones bucales asociadas a la infección por VIH/SIDA y la prevalencia de infecciones oportunistas. MÚtodos: este es un estudio descriptivo, transversal, preliminar y exploratorio que incluye un grupo de pacientes con evidencia serológica de infecicón por VIH/SIDA, los cuales fueron examinados durante el perÝodo comprendido entre los meses de noviembre de 1998 y julio del 2000. Resultados: dentro de este grupo de pacientes, 108 (66 por ciento) presentaron lesiones bucales. Las mßs comunes fueron: candidasis (48.7 por ciento), leucoplasia vellosa (12.3 por ciento), herpes labial (11.7 por ciento), otras lesiones bucales fueron: leucoplasia (6.5 por ciento), hiperpigmentación melßnica (4.5 por ciento). Las enfermedades infecciosas oportunistas mßs frecuentes fueron la hepatitis (14.9 por ciento), neumonÝa por pneumocistis carinii (11.5 por ciento), infección por el virus del herpes zoster (8.6 por ciento) y toxoplasmosis (8.6 por ciento). Conclusión: los pacientes con infeccion por VIH/SIDA presentan un amplio espectro de manifestaciones bucales e infecciones oportunistas, por lo tanto el reconocimiento, diagnóstico, manejo y tratamiento adecuado son importantes para el mejoramiento de la calidad de vida de estos individuos