A patient presenting with diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis (DCL) as a first indicator of HIV infection in India
Khandelwal, K.; Bumb, R.A.; Mehta, R.D.; Kaushal, H.; Lezama-Davila, C.; Salotra, P.; Satoskar, A.R.
American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 85(1): 64-65
2011
ISSN/ISBN: 1476-1645 PMID: 21734126 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2011.10-0649Document Number: 537907
Opportunistic parasitic infections such as leishmaniasis are common in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients and are usually acquired several days after initial diagnosis of HIV infection. Here, we report on a patient who presented with diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis (DCL) caused by Leishmania tropica as the first and only clinical manifestation of HIV infection. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case that illustrates that DCL could be the first clinical indicator of HIV infection. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and DCL are becoming frequent opportunistic infections in HIV-infected individuals throughout the world. To date, all documented cases of CL and HIV coinfections have been reported in patients who were known cases of HIV and who subsequently developed CL. In this report, we present a case that illustrates that DCL could be the first clinical indicator of HIV infection.