What is it about?
We describe a 43-year-old African woman living with HIV who complained of burning pain in the genital and perineal area. Examination showed multiple painful superficial ulcers. Her immune system was severely weakened (CD4 count 78 cells per cubic millimetre). Tests for syphilis and chancroid were negative, while a PCR test on the ulcers was positive for herpes simplex virus type 2, and blood antibodies indicated a recurrent infection. Treatment with oral acyclovir for 14 days led to complete healing and pain relief.
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Why is it important?
Genital herpes reactivates frequently in people with HIV and can be more severe and prolonged. It also increases the risk of HIV transmission and acquisition, and herpes ulcers lasting more than one month are an AIDS-defining condition. Recognizing and treating herpes promptly in people with HIV improves symptoms and helps reduce transmission.
Perspectives
This short case, from my years at the Spallanzani Institute in Rome, is a reminder that common infections can look different and be more severe in people with advanced HIV. Laboratory confirmation and prompt antiviral treatment make a real difference for these patients.
Professor Stefano Di Bella
Universita degli Studi di Trieste
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Painful Lesions In An HIV-1 Seropositive African Woman., Journal of Clinical Research in HIV AIDS and Prevention, May 2015, Open Access Pub,
DOI: 10.14302/issn.2324-7339.jcrhap-13-235.
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