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Box 15-1

  • Skin disorders affect 80% of HIV patients.
  • Fifty percent develop a rash during the primary HIV infection, so-called 'seroconversion'.
  • Severity of skin disorders usually increases with decreasing CD4 counts.
  • Cutaneous presentations are frequently atypical.
  • Consider taking a skin biopsy for histology and culture in any HIV patient with a rash.
  • Management of skin diseases can be difficult; ART is usually beneficial.
  • Patients have a high risk of developing adverse drug reactions.