title: Prevalence of xerosis, eczema, and hair and nail abnormalities in PLWHA in Cotonou, Benin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this investigation was to study the prevalence of xerosis, eczema, and hair and nail abnormalities in PLWHA in Cotonou.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was performed on the records of PLWHA in Cotonou. All PLWHA with xerosis, eczema, or abnormal appendages were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-seven patients had xerosis or eczema. Their mean age was 38 years; the sex ratio 0.51 and the mean CD4 count 89 cells/mm(3). Twenty-three patients had xerosis, which affected the whole body (n = 20), lower limb (n = 2), limbs and trunk (n = 1), without gender difference. Twenty-four patients had eczema of which eight had both eczema and xerosis. Forty-two patients had abnormalities of the hair or nails. Their sex ratio was 0.80 and the mean CD4 count 110 cells/mm(3) . Nineteen patients had abnormalities of the hair and scalp: straight hair (n = 16), squamous lesions (n = 2), and folliculitis abscess (n = 1) with a male predominance. Twenty-three patients had nail dermatophytosis (n = 15), candidiasis (n = 7), and ingrowing nails (n = 1). These conditions affected more often women (74%) than men (26%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of eczema and xerosis is low in our patients. Onychomycosis was the most frequent nail abnormality.
authors.affiliation: Hôpital d'Instruction des Armées, Camp Guézo 01 BP 517, Cotonou. fatadokpede2009@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Atadokpede
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Adegbidi
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Sehonou
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koudoukpo
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Houenassi
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Yedomon
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Do Ango-Padonou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001541:Benin / Q000453:epidemiology; D004485:Eczema / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000002:abnormalities*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009264:Nails, Malformed / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*