Common superficial fungal infections in patients with AIDS.
Superficial mycotic infections such as seborrheic dermatitis, tinea pedis, tinea corporis, and onychomycosis are common in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In communities where HIV infections are frequent, some of these clinical presentations serve as markers of the stage of HIV infection. The diagnosis of superficial fungal infection in HIV-positive patients may be difficult because of atypical clinical manifestations. Therefore, to ensure a correct diagnosis, skin scrapings should be collected for potassium hydroxide preparations and cultures. Most forms of dermatophytosis in HIV-positive patients respond well to many topical antifungal agents, such as azoles, terbinafine, and ciclopirox olamine. If the disease is chronic and extensive, then ketoconazole, fluconazole, and itraconazole are each effective.
Aly
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R
Department of Dermatology, University of California San Francisco 94143-0517, USA.
Berger
T
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D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002179:Candidiasis, Cutaneous / Q000150:complications; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005499:Folliculitis / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008290:Malassezia / Q000472:pathogenicity; D008297:Male; D011538:Pruritus Ani / Q000150:complications; D014010:Tinea Versicolor / Q000150:complications
D000935:Antifungal Agents