HIV infection mimicking autoimmune disorder.
A 13-yr-old girl born to healthy parents presented with cough, fever, easy fatiguability, photosensitivity and alopecia. She had clubbing and diffuse crackles in the chest on examination. Her CT scan of the chest showed evidence of bronchiectasis with consolidation. Investigations for tuberculosis and collagen vascular disease were negative. In due course she developed features of raised intracranial tension. Her blood for HIV ELISA was positive with CD4 counts of 17/ microL. Her CSF, sputum, blood and urine specimen were all positive for Cryptococcus neoformans on culture. HIV was not considered initially because of her atypical presentation. There was no history of sexual abuse, her parents were healthy and she did not receive any blood transfusion in the past.
Sankar
Jhuma
J
Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India.
Raj
Dinesh
D
Sankar
Jeeva
J
Sharma
Pradeep K
PK
Lodha
Rakesh
R
Kabra
S K
SK
D000293:Adolescent; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans