title: Skin disorders affecting human immunodeficiency virus-infected children living in an orphanage in Ethiopia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Skin disorders are common in children in Ethiopia, and it is estimated that 92,000 Ethiopian children are infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV infection increases the prevalence of cutaneous disease, but the effect of antiretroviral therapy (ART) on the pattern of skin disease affecting children in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence and nature of skin disorders in HIV-infected children living in a dedicated orphanage in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two dermatologists performed a clinical examination, including the skin, hair, nails and oral cavity of all the residents of an orphanage in Addis Ababa. The examiners knew that all the children were infected with HIV, but did not know their treatment or immune status. Diagnoses were made clinically and recorded anonymously, and treatment recommendations were made. Details of the children's treatment and CD4 lymphocyte counts were obtained after the examination had been completed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 84 children [53 male (63%); 31 female (37%); median age 10 years] were examined. Of the 84 children, 57 (68%) were on ART, with 51 (61%) of these on cotrimoxazole prophylaxis. The median CD4 percentage was 27.1%. There were 66 children (79%) with at least one skin disorder; 21 of these had two disorders and 6 had three disorders. The commonest diagnosis was tinea capitis, affecting 39% of children. The other common diagnoses were: molluscum contagiosum (MC) (21%), verruca vulgaris (13%), plane warts (8%) and seborrhoeic dermatitis (7%). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of skin disease between children receiving ART and those who were not. Children with MC had significantly lower recent CD4 counts than children who did not have skin disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Skin disorders in this population were very common, and the disorders identified were those that commonly affect children without HIV in Ethiopia. However, MC and plane warts appeared to have a higher frequency than would be expected in uninfected children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, All Africa Leprosy, Tuberculosis and Rehabilitation Training Centre, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Doni
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bogale
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002648:Child; D054540:Child, Orphaned; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology