Spectrum of Mucocutaneous Manifestations in HIV-Infected Patients and Its Correlation with CD4 Lymphocyte Count

In the 2014 study by Fernandes and Bhat involving 100 HIV-positive patients, 235 dermatological manifestations were observed, with both infectious and non-infectious dermatoses being common. The mean CD4 T cell count was 253.3 cells/cumm, and a significant association was found between lower CD4 T cell counts and the occurrence of certain skin conditions such as pyodermas, dermatophytoses, and Papular Pruritic Eruptions. Diffuse hair loss was noted in seven patients and was attributed to various factors including HIV infection, secondary infections, nutritional deficiencies, and drug exposure. The study highlighted the importance of skin findings as indicators of HIV infection severity and progression, with specific manifestations like Papular Pruritic Eruptions being more common in patients with lower CD4 counts (mean of 127 ± 108 cells/cumm). Adverse drug reactions, nail changes, and oral manifestations were also reported, with one case of verrucous carcinoma of the penis observed in a patient with a CD4 count of 31 cells/cumm.