title: Herpes zoster ophthalmicus: an early pointer to HIV-1 positivity in young African patients.
abstract: We studied prospectively 30 patients, seen over 10 months, who had herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) and who were classified by age, sex, ophthalmological observations and HIV-1 status. Of patients who presented with HZO, 40% were HIV positive, and the majority were less than 40 years of age. The clinical manifestation of HZO has a high positive predictive value for HIV positivity in young patients with this viral infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Palexas
authors.forename: N H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Welsh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications*; D006563:Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged