JCRHAPJournal of Clinical Research In HIV AIDS And Prevention2324-7339Open Access PubUnited Statesjcrhap-13-23510.14302/issn.2324-7339.jcrhap-13-235case-reportPainful Lesions in an HIV-1 Seropositive African Woman.StefanoDi Bella1*FabrizioTaglietti1NicolaPetrosillo1National Institute for Infectious Diseases Corresponding AuthorKatieKramer1CEO/Principal The Bridging Group, LLC Oakland, CA.
Stefano Di Bella, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “L. Spallanzani”, Via Portuense 292, 00149 – Rome; Tel: +393290135511; Fax: +39 0655170486;
email: stefano932@gmail.com
The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
A clinical case of painful mucocutaneous lesions in an HIV‑1 seropositive woman is presented. The report discusses differential diagnosis, diagnostic work‑up in resource‑limited settings, and targeted therapy considerations.
Case Report
A 43 year-old woman seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) complained of discomfort and burning pain in her perineal region. Clinical examination revealed multiple painful superficial ulcers. Serological tests for syphilis and swabs for Haemophilusducreyi were negative. CD4 cell count was 78 per cubic millimeter. A polymerase-chain-reaction assay performed on lesion swabs resulted positive for herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). Serology for herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 were both positive (IgG) suggesting recurrent HSV-2 infection. The patient underwent treatment with oral acyclovir 400 mg 5 times per day for 14 days with complete healing of the lesions and pain relief. HSV-2 infection both increases the risk of HIV acquisition and transmission, moreover genital herpes reactivates frequently in people infected with HIV 1. The persistence of herpes simplex ulcers for more than one month is an AIDS defining condition 2.
HIV-1 seropositive African woman
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