DERMATOLOGICAL COMPLICATIONS OF HIV-INFECTION

Cutaneous disorders are extremely common in immunocompromised individu als and may first alert physicians to the presence of HIV disease. Com mon infectious agents involving the skin include Candida, herpes simpl ex, varicella-zoster, and molluscum contagiosum. Papulosquamous disord ers are frequent and often severe, and allergic drug reactions appear to be much more common in the HIV-infected patient. Cutaneous neoplasm s, especially Kaposi's sarcoma, often develop as well. Early recogniti on and treatment of cutaneous disease can greatly contribute to the ca re of individuals with HIV infection.