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. 2019 Jul-Dec;40(2):146-151.
doi: 10.4103/ijstd.IJSTD_69_18.

Prevalence of pruritic papular eruption among HIV patients: A cross-sectional study

Shoubin Mohammed  1 , Seethalakshmi Ganga Vellaisamy  1 , Kannan Gopalan  1 , Lekha Sukumaran  2 , A S Valan  3
Affiliations

Prevalence of pruritic papular eruption among HIV patients: A cross-sectional study

Shoubin Mohammed et al. Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2019 Jul-Dec.

Abstract

Introduction: Pruritic papular eruption (PPE) remains as one of the most common cutaneous manifestations in HIV-infected patients. Proper knowledge about understanding the risk factors associated with this disease may help to decrease the prevalence of PPE.

Objective: The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of PPE in HIV-infected patients and to correlate between the severity of PPE and individual CD4 count.

Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional study, conducted in Palakkad Antiretroviral Therapy Centre, Kerala, between March 2017 and April 2017. A total of 100 HIV patients with evidence of multiple itchy skin lesions of 1-month duration were included in the study. Severity of lesion was evaluated using an objective "rash severity scale" for PPE. Data were coded and analyzed.

Results: Prevalence of PPE was 11.35% in our study. The mean age of the study population was 41.17 ± 12. Male-to-female ratio was 1:2. In our study, 97% of the patients were giving history of mosquito bite. Most of the patients (40%) had moderate type of PPE. In our study, majority (86%) had a CD4 count of more than 200, and the incidence of PPE was more frequently seen in patients with CD4 count more than 200 cells which was statistically significant.

Conclusion: PPEs are unique dermatosis, which is having a devastating impact on the quality of life, stigmatizing them in their communities. Thus, recognizing those lesions helps in allowing better treatment of this distressing condition.

Keywords: CD4 count; HIV/AIDS; pruritic papular eruption.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Papules over upper limbs in a Grade II pruritic papular eruption patient
Figure 2
Figure 2
Papules over lower limbs in a Grade I pruritic papular eruption patient
Figure 3
Figure 3
Papules over face in a Grade IV pruritic papular eruption patient
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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