Kwashiorkor in patients with AIDS

Kwashiorkor, a form of severe protein-energy malnutrition that entails loss of lean body weight, occurs endemically among children in many parts of th e world but also has been documented in adults. We report a case of kwashio rkor in an HIV-positive adult male. Cutaneous findings are striking, and sk in, hair, and nails are affected. Although kwashiorkor occurs in patients w ith HIV-AIDS, the skin manifestations have not been emphasized in the derma tologic literature, indeed, dermatologists may play a vital role in diagnos ing this treatable condition.