Assessment of Dermatological Manifestations of HIV in Primary Care

Abstract

HIV infection continues to be a significant problem. Infected patients with HIV/AIDS were the first to show skin infections in the 1980s. It was projected that 35 million individuals would be infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in 2013. Before illnesses like diabetes and COPD, skin disorders were considered the 4th most common non-fatal disease burden globally in terms of years lost owing to disability. HIV-related skin disorders have a significant burden on society, have an adverse effect on the quality of life, and are directly linked to death. Pathophysiology of the disease is based mainly on understanding the pathology of the skin's immune system, as CD4 lymphocytes are considered the main key to the immunological response of the dermis and serve to inhibit autoimmune diseases and control infections. Hence, a massive decline is noticed in CD4 lymphocytes in patients diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, as mostly CD4 counts below 200 cells per cubic millimetre, which reveals the absence of immunity in the patients Because HIV-related skin problems are challenging to manage and might even reoccur more frequently than in immunocompetent people in the absence of immunological reconstitution with cART, managing them effectively presents unique challenges. Early detection of skin problems linked to HIV offers the chance for early HIV identification and cART introduction, potentially improving overall survivability. Additionally, in environments with low resources, attention is brought to opportunistic infections that are more likely to be fatal, and skin disorders may go unnoticed. This review aims to summarise current knowledge of pathophysiology, causes, and treatment of HIV-related skin disorders with the objective of more qualitative resources for further research, which contributes to better understanding and reveals the points that need further research. Keywords:,,,, ,