Herpes zoster ophthalmicus and HIV seropositivity in South-south Nigeria

Nigerian Journal of Medicine : Journal of the National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria
A O Adio, B Fiebai

Abstract

Herpes zoster is a painful vesiculobullous dermatitis which occurs as a result of previously established varicella zoster virus infection. It is a well established fact that Herpes zoster ophthalmicus is a well known marker of human immune deficiency virus infection even in Africans. The aim of this study is to determine if indeed the herpes zoster condition is a marker for the immune deficiency condition called AIDS in our locality and whether the positivityis related to age or not. A total of 20 consecutive patients that presented between 2003 and 2006 with herpes zoster ophthalmicus were examined retrospectively as to their Human Immune deficiency virus (HIV) status. Their presentation, clinical findings and clinical course are also analyzed. Of the 20 patients examined there was a male preponderance of 4:3 with most patients above 40 years (35.4% between 41-50 years) and half of them were married. Out of the twelve (n = 12, 60%) patients whose serum was tested for human immunodeficiency virus, eight (n = 8, 40%) were negative, while four (n = 4, 20%) were positive for the virus. Eight were not tested. Using 40 years of age as the cutoff, those above 40 years (12 in number), two (n = 2, 25%) were seropositive while 9 were ne...Continue Reading

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