Skin Diseases in Human Immunodeficiency Virus infected children in the era of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy: Epidemiological and Clinical Profile in Pediatric Department of Cotonou, Benin

Abstract

Aim: To determine the epidemiological and clinical profile of skin diseases in HIV-infected children followed in Pediatric Department at the University Hospital of Cotonou, Benin. Method: A 6-month transversal and descriptive study was carried out and included HIV-infected children aged 6 weeks to 15 years, on or no on antiretroviral therapy, followed since 2002 and who were suffering of skin disease. Data collected were analyzed with Epi Info 6 and SPSS 16. Results: From the 187 children, 61% (114) had at least a skin disorder. The sex ratio M/F was 0.9 and the mean age was 8 years ± 3.8 years. We diagnosed 240 cutaneous diseases parted into infectious (55 cases, 22.9%) and non-infectious (185 cases, 77.1%). At least two skin diseases were observed in 97.4% of children. The 240 skin diseases were distributed according to diagnostic and prognostic interest into common (65.5%), opportunistic (26.6%) and iatrogenic (7.9%). Immuno-depression was absent or insignificant (CD4≥350 / ml) in 82.5% of children and moderate to severe (CD4 < 350/ ml) in 17.5%. Antiretroviral therapy was used in 75.4% of children. Conclusion: Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapies (HAART) have reduced the occurrence of opportunistic dermatosis more than the overall frequency and multiple character of skin diseases in HIV infected infants in the University Hospital of Cotonou.