Prevalence of pruritic papular eruption among HIV patients: A cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION: Pruritic papular eruption (PPE) remains as one of the most common cutaneous manifestations in HIV-infected patients. Proper knowledge about understanding the risk factors associated with this disease may help to decrease the prevalence of PPE. OBJECTIVE: The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of PPE in HIV-infected patients and to correlate between the severity of PPE and individual CD4 count. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study, conducted in Palakkad Antiretroviral Therapy Centre, Kerala, between March 2017 and April 2017. A total of 100 HIV patients with evidence of multiple itchy skin lesions of 1-month duration were included in the study. Severity of lesion was evaluated using an objective “rash severity scale” for PPE. Data were coded and analyzed. RESULTS: Prevalence of PPE was 11.35% in our study. The mean age of the study population was 41.17 ± 12. Male-to-female ratio was 1:2. In our study, 97% of the patients were giving history of mosquito bite. Most of the patients (40%) had moderate type of PPE. In our study, majority (86%) had a CD4 count of more than 200, and the incidence of PPE was more frequently seen in patients with CD4 count more than 200 cells which was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: PPEs are unique dermatosis, which is having a devastating impact on the quality of life, stigmatizing them in their communities. Thus, recognizing those lesions helps in allowing better treatment of this distressing condition.