ETHNIC AND GEOGRAPHIC DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES OE HIV/AIDS-RELATED MUCOCUTANEOUS DISEASES |
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| Authors: | JORGEN SØ NDERGAARD,M.D.,,KAARE WEISMANN,M.D.,,P. VITHAYASAI,M.D.,,S. SRISUWAN M.D.,,M. MANELA-AZULAY,M.D.,,MEMBERS OF THE DANIDA STUDY GROUPS |
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| Affiliation: | Danish Danida Study Group, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark: J, Sondergaard, K. Weismann, B. Løkke Jensen, J. Sindrup, O. Kamp Jensen, H. Klem Thomsen;the Thai Danida Study Group, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand: P. Vithayasai, S. Srisuwan, V. Vithayasai, C. Jarujinda, A. Karujanahaluethai;and the Brazil Danida Study Group, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: M. Manela-Azulay, D. Azulay, B.M. Trope, B.R. Avé, J.R, Caneschi, J.M.P. Maceira. |
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| Abstract: | Background. A study on HIV/AIDS-related mucocutaneous manifestations has been carried out in three different ethnic and geographic areas, namely Brazil, Denmark, and Thailand. Methods. The Brazil cohort comprised 110 patients, the Danish cohort 150, and the Thai cohort 206 patients. The majority of the Brazil and Thai cohort patients belonged to groups III and IV according to the CDC clinical staging system, whereas the patients in Denmark called their doctors earlier and only 8% were classified in groups III and IV. Results. In all three areas the number of mucocutaneous diseases correlated well with the progression of the HIV disease. Ethnic differences were not identified, whereas geographic differences related to skin infections were marked. In the Asian cohort a generalized fungal infection was detected with characteristic mucocutaneous symptoms caused by Penicillium marneffei. Conclusions. Teaching efforts about mucocutaneous signs as markers of HIV infection may be of value, particularly in developing areas, to allow earlier diagnosis. In future guidelines for classification of HIV/AIDS-related mucocutaneous diseases geographic considerations should be included. |
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