title: Herpes zoster in African patients: a clinical predictor of human immunodeficiency virus infection.
abstract: A recent episode or a history of herpes zoster was found in 30 (11%) of 284 patients hospitalized with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection at Mama Yemo Hospital, Kinshasa, Zaire. Of 146 African patients with a history of herpes zoster who were referred to us by physicians at the Mama Yemo Hospital, 133 (91%) were HIV seropositive. The clinical characteristics of the herpes zoster episodes did not differ between HIV-seropositive and -seronegative individuals, except that 23% of the HIV-seropositive patients experienced recurrences compared with none of the HIV-seronegative patients (P = .05). No patient developed a generalized herpes zoster eruption, and only patients with ophthalmic zoster developed related complications. Patients who experienced severe pain during their herpes zoster attack lost more weight than did those who had only minor pain (P = .0003).
authors.affiliation: Project SIDA, Department of Public Health, Kinshasa, Zaire.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Colebunders
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bila
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Izaley
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ilwaya
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kakonde
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Curran
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piot
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence