Ceftriaxone or HIV associated angio-oedema? Case report

Abstract

Angio-oedema may be hereditary or acquired and is characterised by episodes of potentially life threatening localised tissue oedema and swelling resulting from deficiency of compliment pathway C1 esterase inhibitor. Acquired angio-oedema is about ten times less frequent than the hereditary type and has been associated with immune-deficiency disorders, malignancies and exposure to specific medications and food substances. We present a case of seven year old, human immune-deficiency virus positive girl, who developed gross swelling of the tongue and neck while on treatment for pneumococcal meningitis with ceftriaxone. Difficulties in arriving at a definitive diagnosis of angiooedema in a resource poor country are discussed and alternative diagnostic options proposed.

Urticaria and HIV Infection: A Case Report

“…Our hypothesis that HIV was a trigger for chronic urticaria in our patient was supported by other case reports [6][7][8][9][10]. Lin and Schwartz [9] reported three cases of cold urticaria in HIV patients and that could be from the altered immune system, high IgE levels, and hypersensitivity phenomenon in these patients.…”

“…These infections are caused by viruses (herpes simplex 1 and 2, human herpesvirus 6, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, hepatitis A, B, and C viruses) [5]. There are case reports of urticaria in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients; these patients have a high incidence of other cutaneous lesions and disorders [6][7][8][9][10][11]. Urticaria also occurs in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), infestation with parasites, bacterial infections (Helicobacter pylori and bacterial infections of nasopharynx), and rarely helminths [1,[12][13][14][15][16].…”