Ethnic and geographic differences and similarities of HIV/AIDS-related mucocutaneous diseases. Danida Study Groups.
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.
Søndergaard
J
J
Danish Danida Study Group, University of Copenhagen.
Weismann
K
K
Vithayasai
P
P
Srisuwan
S
S
Manela-Azulay
M
M
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology; D009061:Mouth Mucosa; D010407:Penicillium; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology; D012874:Skin Diseases, Infectious / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology