title: Giant molluscum contagiosum - a clue to the diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus infection.
abstract: Molluscum contagiosum (MC) is a benign cutaneous viral infection, affecting mainly children and young adults. Though the disease is self-limiting in immunocompetent individuals, a severe and prolonged course is associated with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. The following reports an apparently healthy 2-year-old boy with extensive MC without any systemic illness. His parents died of tuberculosis. Investigations revealed him to be a case of HIV infection with severe immunosuppression. The fact that awareness of this condition as being the first sign of HIV infection should prompt diagnostic investigation, especially in India where access to healthcare facilities is limited.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India. Electronic address: drsriparnabasu@rediffmail.com.
authors.forename: Sriparna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Basu
authors.forename: Ashok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008976:Molluscum Contagiosum / Q000209:etiology*
keywords: Child; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; Molluscum contagiosum