<<Print>>

The Medical Administrator of Alpha Medical Centre, Dr Francis K. Afflu, has stated that the recognition of HIV/AIDS related skin diseases and changes may lead to the diagnosis of HIV infection in the early stages. He gave the assurance that when the virus is detected early in a patient it is easily treated with the antiretroviral drugs. According to him, some of these skin diseases diagnosed are in patients who are not HIV positive but for those who are positive it manifests strongly on their skin due to the alterations of their immune systems. He added that these skin diseases occur mostly in the early stages of the infection. Dr Afflu stated that skin diseases including viral infections namely Herpes simplex virus, Herpes Zoster virus, superficial fungal infections namely Candidiasis, Dermatophytosis, Pityriasis versicolor, bacteria/parasitic infections namely staph aureus, strep species, bartonella henselae, treponema pallidum, saroptes scabies among others are the most common skin diseases that affect infected people. On his part, Dr J.A. Oliver-Commey of the Fevers Unit at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra said 90% of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) develop these skin changes and symptoms at some stage during the course of their illness. He assured patients who experience these skin diseases that such occurrences are not life threatening but their effect is mainly cosmetic and could affect the quality of life of the individuals involved since they encounter stigmatization, loneliness and disfiguration. He disclosed that the advent of the Highly Active Antiretroviral Treatment (HAART) has modified the presentation of skin disorder in HIV/AIDS patients. The infections called the opportunistic infections include Papular Dermatitis, Herpes Zoster, Zaposi Sarcoma, Genital Warts, and Genital Ulcers, Angular Cheilitis, TB of the Skin, Sebborthoeic dermatitis (Eczema) he added. Dr Oliver-Commey stated that antiretroviral drugs can also give some skin reactions to the patient using it such as lipodystrophy, where the patient loses some fat around cheek areas and the Steven Johnson Syndrome, where the patient suffers all the skin diseases at once. He encouraged people not to discriminate against people living with HIV/AIDS and advised that anyone who has noticed any of these skin diseases should see a doctor and if Possible test for HIV.