title: Human T-lymphotrophic virus type 1-associated infective dermatitis: a comprehensive review.
abstract: Infective dermatitis (ID) is a chronic, relapsing dermatitis associated with human T-lymphotrophic virus (HTLV)-1 which was initially described in Jamaican children. Although most cases have been reported in Jamaica, ID may be seen in other HTLV-1 endemic areas, such as Brazil, Japan, sub-Saharan Africa, and Trinidad and Tobago. Since HTLV-1 infection has been implicated in the development of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma, an aggressive hematologic malignancy, and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis, a neurodegenerative disease, ID may serve as an early clinical marker for either condition. Although HTLV-1-associated infective dermatitis is considered by most to be rare, it has been increasingly diagnosed over the past 20 years; some suggest ID may be underdiagnosed. One should maintain suspicion of HTLV-1 infection among individuals in or from endemic areas, recognizing the clinical features and prognostic implications of infectious dermatitis.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Schwartz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara / Q000453:epidemiology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D003906:Developing Countries; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007563:Jamaica / Q000453:epidemiology; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017193:Skin Diseases, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D014300:Trinidad and Tobago / Q000453:epidemiology