Category: Infection

Caroline Sampson, 60, contracted an antibiotic-resistant urinary tract infection (UTI) in 2016 after undergoing a minor gynaecological procedure. Almost seven years on with little respite, she says the condition has been life-changing. Ms Sampson is just one of many in the UK living with antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which has become a leading public health threat in recent years. “We expect antibiotics to treat bacterial infections, but sometimes, that’s simply impossible,” Dame Jenny Harris, Chief Executive of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), warned last week, emphasising the surge in antibiotic-resistant infections in the UK. Most people think of antibiotic resistance as a worry for the future. Termed the ‘silent pandemic,’ projections show that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) could claim 10 million lives annually by 2050. But AMR is very much here today. Globally, it has already superseded leading infectious disease killers, including malaria and HIV. In England alone, 58,224 people experienced an antibiotic-resistant infection in 2022, up 4 per cent from 2021. Ms Sampson’s problems began in 2016 when she was prescribed a three-day course of antibiotics to treat a UTI Credit: Matt Writtle Common antibiotic-resistant infections in the UK include MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and Clostridium difficile (C. diff) – both of which plague hospital wards and pose an especially acute risk to frail, often elderly, post-operative patients. Other common bacterial infections, including UTIs, some forms of diarrhoea, and sexually transmitted infections have also become subject to high levels of drug resistance. These and other infections pose a particular risk to the young, and without effective treatment can spread and prove fatal. Ms Sampson’s journey with antibiotic resistance began in 2016 when she was prescribed a three-day course of antibiotics to treat a UTI, which she developed after having a hormonal coil fitted by her GP. The antibiotics failed to clear the infection, however, and it came back with a vengeance. “I’ve tried and tried, and I can’t get rid of it,” she said. Over the past seven years, she has been prescribed more than 11 different oral antibiotics, to little avail. She even received an intravenous gentamicin injection, usually reserved for the most severe antibacterial infections, namely sepsis. But even that didn’t work. Living with a resistant and chronic UTI has made Ms Sampson’s life extremely difficult. “I’m really limited in what I can do on a day-to-day basis,” she said. Without an available treatment to ease her discomfort, she says her life has changed dramatically. Her plans are often cancelled due to constant pain and years of antibiotic treatment have led to debilitating side effects, including “destroying” her gut health and developing neuropathic pains in her legs, hindering her ability to walk. The physical and mental strain of AMR eventually led her to quit her job at a major public school, a position she had held for some 25 years. “I’m homebound a lot of the time, and I don’t cope very well. Somedays are absolutely dreadful. It’s been heartbreaking.” Vanessa Carter, 44, is also living with the fallout from AMR. An executive director, she battled a recurrent MRSA infection following a car crash that led to multiple reconstructive surgeries on her face. A cheek prosthetic Ms Carter had implanted during one surgery became infected. Multiple debridement (cleaning) operations were performed in order to save the prosthetic and rid her of the bacteria, operations which subsequently failed. She spent three years on different antibiotics, none of which seemed to work. The invasive MRSA infection then spread to the bone in her cheek. MRSA typically lives on the skin, if it gets into the bloodstream it can lead to sepsis. “One mistake I made repeatedly was to quit a course of antibiotics halfway. I was ignorant of the risks of doing so,” she said. “That was contributing to my antibiotic-resistant infection worsening.” After a challenging three-year battle with illness, a breakthrough emerged with the introduction of the last-resort antibiotic Vancomycin. While the medication proved effective in overcoming the infection, its aftermath has left Ms Carter scared physically. Now a member of the recently-created World Health Organisation (WHO) Strategic Technical Advisory Group on AMR, Ms Carter is an advocate for patient education and resistance prevention. She also runs a patient-support charity for survivors, the AMR Narrative. “Antibiotics are life-saving drugs, but we keep squandering them unnecessarily. Diseases that we once thought we had under control will threaten us again. From experience, nothing could be more frightening than feeling like you have lost the battle.” There are a number of causes for AMR. Human behaviour is a primary cause. Microbial resistance is a natural process but is heavily aggravated by excessive and incorrect use of drugs. When a patient does not finish their prescribed course of antibiotics, it allows some bacteria to survive and adapt, reducing the effectiveness of the drug in future. Similarly, when antibiotics are used to treat a viral condition, it exposes bacteria to the drugs unnecessarily, allowing them an opportunity to become resistant. This is particularly challenging in fragile health systems, where antibiotics are often under-regulated. Bacteria can be spread through airborne transmission, water, food, animals, plants and humans; factors including poor sanitation and access to clean water can add significantly to the issue. Agriculture also plays a significant role in AMR. The use of antibiotics in livestock for disease prevention and promotion of growth has notably contributed to the rise of resistant bacteria that can then spread to humans. Neil Ward, a global genomics expert at PacBio, is calling for greater collaboration and sharing of genomic pathogens to bolster communication between health and policy bodies. Specifically, Mr Ward argues that better investment into the genetic sequencing of agricultural threats will allow for stronger international biosurveillance, allowing scientists and officials to respond better to new antimicrobial threats. The WHO has echoed this, calling for “cross-sectional collaboration” from the agricultural sector, to the food industry, to health and pharmaceutical leaders. Mr Ward suggests that government organisations, including the UK’s Department of Environment, Food & Health (DEFRA) could

Attachments A steady economic growth over the last two decades in Cambodia and the ASEAN region has contributed to an increase in internal and international migration in search of better employment and livelihood opportunities. Migrants and mobile populations (MMP) face many obstacles in accessing essential health-care services due to a number of factors, including irregular migratory status, language barriers, a lack of migrant-inclusive health policies and inaccessibility of realization of global health goals, such as preventing HIV, containing tuberculosis the human influenza pandemics, and other key infectious diseases. High morbidity and mortality among migrants, especially in irregular, force, or exploitative migration situations is an underestimated critical health concern that deserves international attention. The research study undertaken by IOM aimed to analyse migrants’ knowledge on six infectious diseases (HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, dengue fever and malaria) and any barriers which may prevent them from accessing health services. The report covers findings from a data collection study in five provinces linking Cambodia to Thailand, Viet Nam and Lao People’s Democratic Republic where migrant populations live. It also provides wide-ranging recommendations for the government institutions, development sector and local authorities on increasing the migrants’ populations understanding of disease prevention.

Dr Nelson Musoba, the director general of Uganda Aids Commission, has urged nationals to be cautious of the risk of HIV infection as they head for festive season. “When you are excited, when you take alcohol, your judgement is impaired and when you meet new people, there is risk [of contracting HIV], so you have to plan for it. Let the young people who are not of age take precaution and abstain. Let the adults protect themselves and protect each other, let them use protection if they must have sex. Know the [HIV] status of your partners,” he said. Addressing journalists in Kampala yesterday, Dr Musoba said HIV infections are still high in the country with around 1,000 people contracting the virus every week. He said this while announcing the World Aids Day commemorations on December 1, which will be held in Rakai District with President Museveni expected to be the chief guest. According to the statistics from the Commission, more than 51,000 people contracted HIV last year and out of more than 1.4 million people living with the virus, around 17,000 died. The figures indicate that new infections are higher among adolescents and young women. Ms Jacqueline Makokha, the country director of The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids (UNAids), also told journalists that this year’s commemoration will be held under the theme: “Let communities lead.” “Communities connect people with person-centered public health services, they build trust, they innovate, they monitor implementation of policies and services and they hold service providers accountable. Globally, communities are being held back and are struggling. They are facing funding shortages, policy and regulatory hurdles, capacity constraints and crackdown on some community groups,” she said. Dr Stephen Watiti, the outgoing chairperson of the National Forum of People Living with HIV/Aids Networks in Uganda, appealed to persons living with HIV to adhere to their medication and not spread the infection to other people. “We know what to do, we can stop it [HIV infections and deaths]. The few of us who are infected should combine efforts to ensure that we are not dying by adhering to medication while we are also not infecting others,” he said. Ms Ruth Awori, the executive director of Uganda Network of Young People Living with HIV/Aids (UNYPA), asked the government to increase interventions that focus on reducing infections among adolescent girls and women. She also appealed for increased local funding towards HIV/Aids to ensure sustainability as donors warned of dwindling funding. “HIV is a big problem among children and the youth and this is because of various reasons such as mother to child transmission because of the challenges mothers face despite availability of medical intervention, which see them still transmitting the virus. When this happens, we need to support the children to ensure they adhere to the treatment and live productive life,” she said, adding that many young people are also contracting HIV through unprotected sex.

By Emily Stearn, Health Reporter For Mailonline Published: 06:09 EST, 29 November 2023 | Updated: 07:10 EST, 29 November 2023

Selon la Direction générale de la Santé (DGS), des “cas nécessitant une hospitalisation chez les adultes et les enfants en France” ont été recensés. Dans un message adressé ce mercredi 29 novembre aux professionnels de la santé, la Direction générale de la santé (DGS) a alerté d’une “recrudescence inhabituelle” de cas d’infections respiratoires à Mycoplasma pneumoniae, “y compris de cas nécessitant une hospitalisation chez les adultes et les enfants en France.” Cette bactérie dite “atypique” faisait déjà l’objet d’une surveillance spécifique après que SOS Médecins a informé d’une hausse des infections pulmonaires chez les enfants à la fin novembre, en particulier chez les 6 à 15 ans. Selon la DGS, la Mycoplasma pneumoniae est responsable d’infections respiratoires, très fréquentes chez les enfants de plus de 4 ans et les jeunes adultes, qui sont dans l’immense majorité bénignes et guérissent spontanément. “La transmission interhumaine se fait via les gouttelettes et l’incubation est de 1 à 3 semaines”, apprend-on encore. “Six mois de stocks” d’antibiotiques Face à cette augmentation des cas, la DGS dit poursuivre “ses analyses au niveau national afin de préciser les caractéristiques et la dynamique actuelle de l’épidémie”, et appelle également l’Agence nationale de sécurité du médicament (ANSM) à “un suivi renforcé de la consommation des antibiotiques utilisés en période hivernale.” Interrogé ce mercredi matin à ce sujet sur l’antenne de Franceinfo, le ministre de la Santé, Aurélien Rousseau, a assuré qu’il s’agit d’une “bactérie” que l’on “connaît bien”, et a évoqué une augmentation “comme dans tous les pays d’Europe.” “On a six mois de stocks” d’antibiotiques pour traiter d’éventuels malades en France, a-t-il assuré.

“I’ve been practicing emergency medicine for 25 years, and I have not seen strep throat as frequently as I have in these past six or eight months,” said Dr. Jennifer Stevenson, the head of the emergency department at Henry Ford Medical Center in Dearborn, Mich., in an Oct. 28 NBC report. This report said that the bacterial illness, marked by painful, scratchy throats and high fevers, has been rising for months in parts of the mid-Atlantic and the Southeast. And, unfortunately, no one seems to know why. Since medical providers aren’t required to report strep throat diagnoses to our health department, we don’t know if strep infections are increasing here. But after seeing this report, I think it’s a good time to address this infection that affects several million people a year. Strep throat is caused by a bacterium known as Streptococcus pyogenes, aka group A streptococcus. “Streptococcal bacteria are contagious,” May Clinic says. “They can spread through droplets when someone with the infection coughs or sneezes, or through shared food or drinks. You can also pick up the bacteria from a doorknob or other surface and transfer them to your nose, mouth, or eyes.” Although it primarily affects children ages five to fifteen, strep throat can happen to anyone at any time. Parents of school-aged children or those who are in contact with younger children are more at risk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it’s “very rare” in children younger than 3. The CDC says that it is more prevalent in the early spring and winter. The bacteria, it seems, flourishes whenever people are in close contact with one another. Places like schools, daycare centers, and military training facilities can be petri dishes for infections. “Strep bacteria may spread, causing infection in the tonsils, sinuses, skin, blood or middle ear,” Mayo says. “It can also lead to inflammatory illnesses, including scarlet fever, inflammation of the kidney, rheumatic fever or poststreptococcal reactive arthritis.” Signs and symptoms may include throat pain that comes on quickly, pain swallowing (one woman said she couldn’t even swallow her spit, it hurt so badly), red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus; tiny red spots on the area at the back of the roof of the mouth; swollen, tender lymph nodes in the neck; fever, headache, rash, nausea or vomiting (especially in younger children) and body aches. “It’s possible for you or your child to have many of these signs and symptoms but not have strep throat,” Mayo explains. “The cause of these signs and symptoms could be a viral infection or some other illness. That’s why your doctor generally tests specifically for strep throat.” Not only that, it’s also possible for a person to have a strep infection and be contagious but not show any signs or symptoms. After the primary care provider does a physical exam of the patient and believes the symptoms are caused by group A streptococcus, he or she will swab the throat. Then, one of two things will happen. The rapid strep test quickly shows if the bacteria is causing the illness. If that’s the case, the provider will prescribe antibiotics. “If the test is negative, but a doctor still suspects strep throat, then the doctor can take a throat culture swab,” the CDC says. “A throat culture takes time to see if group A strep bacteria grow from the swab. While it takes more time, a throat culture sometimes finds infections that the rapid strep test misses. Culture is important to use in children and teens since they can get rheumatic fever from an untreated strep throat infection.” Strep throat is treated with antibiotics. The benefits include decreasing how long someone is sick, decreasing symptoms, preventing the bacteria from spreading to others, and preventing serious complications. Also, taking antibiotics will help the patient feel better in just a day or two. Two things to note about taking antibiotics: it’s important to take the medicine as directed and to take the whole course. Don’t let the patient stop taking them just because they feel better unless directed by their PCP. And don’t forget to throw away their toothbrush as soon as the infection is gone. Kathy Hubbard is a member of the Bonner General Health Foundation Advisory Council. She can be reached at [email protected].

If 2022 was the year mpox infections exploded globally, 2023 was the year much of the world stopped paying attention. Yet Canadian researchers, in collaboration with scientists working on the ground in hot spots such as Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), are still shining a spotlight on the virus that sparked last year’s unprecedented global outbreak — and one that still seems capable of new surprises. One joint Canadian-DRC research team, co-led by Jason Kindrachuk from the University of Manitoba, has documented what Kindrachuk calls a “massive red flag”: the first known cases of a deadlier strain of mpox spreading through sexual contact. “This is a real concern for us in regard to the potential for the disease to spread broadly,” he said. The World Health Organization (WHO) announced the finding in its latest mpox report, and CBC News has obtained the forthcoming paper in which Kindrachuk — and a team of other Canadian, Congolese and international researchers — further outline a cluster of clade I infections linked to sexual transmission. There are two main forms of mpox virus: clade I and clade II. The global outbreak in 2022 involved clade IIb, which typically leads to milder illness. By year’s end there had been roughly 87,000 infections and more than 100 deaths after the virus spread widely through sexual networks, with the majority of the cases among men who have sex with men. Infections of that form of mpox leads to an array of painful and sometimes debilitating symptoms, including both internal and external lesions, but relatively few deaths. Clade I, in contrast, was long estimated to have a death rate of up to 10 per cent, though the most recent WHO report on an ongoing outbreak in the DRC suggests a case fatality rate of close to five per cent. Until now, it was also thought to spread mainly through close contact, including surface-based transmission. 5 individuals tested positive The paper from Kindrachuk’s team outlines how a Congolese man, identified by WHO as a resident of Belgium, had sexual contact with another person in Europe. After arriving in the DRC, the man then tested positive for clade I mpox, and reported that he had sexual contact with nine additional partners, including six men and three women. Five contacts in total ended up testing positive, and all required outpatient treatment and pain control, the research team reported. Followup investigations also looked at other possible transmission chains involving 120 additional contacts — including other sexual contacts and family members — but none of those individuals developed mpox during 21 days of follow up. “We have a tiny piece of the puzzle suggesting something is different now,” Kindrachuk said, noting the new finding raises fresh questions about just how often sexual transmission is already happening within the DRC. Given the increased disease severity associated with this mpox clade, the researchers stressed sexual transmission could impact broader geographical spread of mpox across both clades of the virus. WHO said another outbreak in the DRC is also being reported, involving multiple cases of mpox among sex workers. These new instances of sexual transmission raise concerns about the rapid expansion of mpox within the country and beyond, given its “internationally mobile” population, the organization continued in its latest report. A child with mpox sits on his father’s lap while receiving treatment at the centre of the International medical NGO Doctors Without Borders in the Central African Republic. The World Health Organization has declared an end to the global public health emergency for mpox, yet some scientists warn there’s still cause for concern. (Charles Bouessel/AFP) DRC experiencing largest annual outbreak The DRC has been particularly hard hit by the deadlier form of mpox this year. It has been linked to more than 12,000 suspected cases and nearly 600 deaths since the start of the year — the highest number of annual cases ever reported in the Central African nation, WHO figures show. Worldwide transmission of the milder clade is still simmering as well. Though WHO ended its emergency designation for mpox in May, and case reporting in many regions has been scaled back since then, hundreds of clade IIb cases were still reported across dozens of countries this fall. More than a year into the global outbreak, burning scientific questions about how mpox operates remain unanswered, while hot spots throughout Africa that have endured outbreaks for years still don’t have access to vaccines. “In Congo this year, there are thousands and thousands of cases of mpox, and not a vaccine dose to be found … it’s such a slap in the face to our colleagues [in Africa],” said Kindrachuk. “We shouldn’t just be responsive when these types of infectious diseases move into our regions or across our borders and start to present a much greater threat.” A patient receives an mpox vaccination at a clinic in southern France in August 2022. While global cases of the virus are now dropping, some scientists warn mpox will remain a global threat, with future outbreaks a near certainty. (Pascal Guyot/AFP/Getty Images) The world only became interested in mpox when cases appeared beyond the African continent, said Toronto-based infectious diseases physician Dr. Isaac Bogoch, who is working on DRC mpox research alongside Kindrachuk. “This [is] an infection that has been recurring and increasing in frequency over the last couple of decades as the smallpox vaccine programs started to wind down,” he said, noting that endemic regions of Africa still lack both vaccines and treatment options. In contrast, many higher-income countries made vaccines and therapeutics widely available during last year’s outbreak. Vaccine campaigns launched throughout Canada used a smallpox/mpox vaccine manufactured by Bavarian Nordic, for instance, and health-care providers here have also prescribed the smallpox treatment TPOXX off-label for mpox patients. WATCH | Mpox infections can mean weeks of pain, isolation: What it’s like to recover from monkeypox 1 year ago Duration 1:57 Featured VideoA Toronto resident shares his experience recovering from monkeypox, while officials and

In a recent breakthrough, doctors have found a potential solution for people experiencing long-term smell problems post-Covid infection — nerve-blocking injection. While some treatments help with the loss of smell, there hasn’t been much success in treating the issue where smells are distorted, a condition called parosmia. People with parosmia may perceive odors differently than they actually are, often experiencing unpleasant or distorted smells even when exposed to familiar scents. Meanwhile, Covid-19 also triggered Anosmia, which is the loss or absence of the sense of smell. Individuals with anosmia are unable to detect or perceive odors. advertisement Anosmia can have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life, affecting their ability to taste food and detect potential dangers, such as spoiled food or gas leaks, by smell. The treatment was safe with very few risks. (Photo: Getty) The study, done with the help of Ear, Nose, and Throat specialists, focused on patients who still had smell issues six months after having Covid-19, despite trying different medicines. The doctors presented their preliminary findings at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America and stated the use of a special technique called CT-guided stellate ganglion block (SGB). This involves placing a small needle near the neck and injecting a numbing medicine into the bundle of nerves. This was done with the help of a CT scan to make sure the needle was in the right place. They also looked for any temporary side effects, like a condition affecting the eyes. The results were promising. Out of 54 people in the study, 59% felt better just a week after the treatment. And for 82% of them, the improvement kept going up even a month later. The report stated that after three months, people who got the treatment reported feeling 49% better on average. Some even got back 100% of their smell! They also found that doing the same treatment on the other side of the neck helped more for some people. Anosmia can have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life. (Photo: AP) “SGB shows promise for patients with long term post-Covid parosmia, and CT provides ideal efficiency and guidance,” the paper read. A temporary side effect called Horner’s syndrome happened in 95% of cases, but it went away within 30 minutes. This showed that the treatment was safe with very few risks. This new treatment seems like a hopeful solution for people who still struggle with distorted smell after having Covid-19. Published By: Sibu Kumar Tripathi Published On: Nov 29, 2023 Trending Reel

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Yogyakarta has recorded a reduction in dengue cases, dropping below the global incidence rate of 10 per 100,000 population, following the use of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin stated on Wednesday. In his Instagram post, he attributed this success to research conducted by Gadjah Mada University. He mentioned that the dengue incidence rate in Indonesia has continued to increase compared to global standards since 1968, despite various interventions carried out by the government, such as fogging, larviciding, and the implementation of the 3M movement. The current dengue incidence rate in Indonesia is 28.5 per 100,000 population. Yogyakarta City, in fact, had previously reached figures of 300 to 400 per 100,000 population, according to Sadikin. The Ministry’s Directorate General of Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (P2P) reported that the rate of dengue cases in Indonesia averages between 74,000 to 140,000 per year. Meanwhile, from January to November 2023, dengue cases in Indonesia reached 76,449 patients, with 571 deaths. This figure represents a successful reduction from the number of dengue cases in 2022, which totaled 143,300 patients and 1,236 deaths, thanks to interventions such as fogging, larviciding, the use of mosquito nets, and the 3M plus movement. “Apart from approximately 200 children dying from acute kidney failure, we are also saddened to see thousands of children dying due to dengue. We must replicate the success of Yogyakarta City in saving our children’s lives,” Sadikin remarked. He mentioned that the government had decided to implement the Wolbachia program to suppress the replication of the dengue virus transmitted through the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito. “Most children die every year because of dengue. We successfully implemented the Wolbachia program in Yogyakarta,” he noted. The Health Ministry is implementing Wolbachia technology to reduce the spread of dengue hemorrhagic fever in Indonesia. This technology employs a “replacement” method, whereby male and female Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes are released into natural mosquito populations. The objective of this method is to enable female mosquitoes to mate with local mosquitoes, ultimately producing offspring that contain Wolbachia. Related news: Dengue: Govt spends Rp16 billion on Wolbachia trialsRelated news: Disseminating information on Wolbachia method a challenge: official

ByParmita Uniyal, New Delhi Nov 29, 2023 12:57 PM IST Share Via Copy Link People with AIDS are susceptible to various skin conditions due to their compromised immunity. Here’s how AIDS affects your skin. Know preventive measures. HIV/AIDS can make you susceptible to diseases and infections due to weakened immune system and this can include skin disorders. Skin infections in HIV/AIDS patients can be caused by bacteria, fungus, virus and other germ or the treatment they are getting to manage the condition. HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system and if not treated, it can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). While HIV cannot be cured, it can be managed in order to live a long and healthy life. The only way to know if you have HIV is through testing. Antibody tests, antigen/antibody tests, and nucleic acid tests (NAT) are the three main HIV tests. According to John Hopkins Medicine, topical steroid treatment (lotions or creams put right on the skin) and managing it with antiretroviral drugs can help provide relief. Antiretroviral drugs can help prevent and manage some of these types of skin conditions. (Also read | World can end AIDS by 2030, says UN agency) Skin infections in HIV/AIDS patients can be caused by bacteria, fungus, virus and other germ or the treatment they are getting to manage the condition. (Freepik) “Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a condition caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which attacks the immune system, leading to a weakened defense against infections. The skin, being the body’s largest organ, often reflects the overall health of the immune system. Individuals with AIDS are particularly susceptible to various skin conditions due to their compromised immunity,” says Dr Rinky Kapoor, Consultant Dermatologist, Cosmetic Dermatologist & Dermato-Surgeon, The Esthetic Clinics. We’re now on WhatsApp. Click to join. “Seborrhoeic dermatitis is one of the earliest and most common manifestation in which the patient presents with itching and widespread and excessive greasy flakes over scalp (dandruff), face and skin folds like underarms and groin. They can also be at risk of Herpes zoster (shingles), which presents with grouped painful blisters associated with pus, erosions and crusting localised on one side of the body. This is caused by reactivation of the chicken pox virus due to immunosuppression, which lies dormant in nerves of the skin after infection during childhood. In AIDS, shingles is more widespread, crossing over to the other side involving large areas and lasting longer than usual,” says Dr Aayush Gupta, Associate Professor and Consultant Dermatologist. Dr Rinky Kapoor shares common skin infections that can affect HIV/AIDS patients: 1. Candidiasis One common dermatological manifestation is fungal infections, such as candidiasis. Candida, a yeast-like fungus, can cause infections in moist areas like the mouth, throat, and genital region. In individuals with AIDS, these infections can be persistent and challenging to treat. 2. Herpes simplex virus Viral infections are also prevalent, with herpes simplex virus (HSV) causing oral and genital herpes. Lesions may be more severe and recurrent in individuals with AIDS, requiring antiviral medications for management. 3. Bacterial infections Bacterial infections, including staphylococcal and streptococcal infections, can lead to cellulitis or boils. These skin conditions may be more aggressive in individuals with compromised immune systems, necessitating prompt medical attention. “Due to reduced immunity, bacterial skin infections also become more common and recurrent leading to painful wounds with pus discharge, including tuberculosis of the skin which presents with non-healing deep wounds and ulcers,” says Dr Gupta. 4. Seborrheic dermatitis Furthermore, seborrheic dermatitis, characterized by red, itchy, and flaky skin, is common in AIDS patients. It often affects the scalp, face, and chest. 5. Kaposi’s sarcoma Kaposi’s sarcoma, a cancer linked to human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8), presents as skin lesions that are typically purplish in colour. This condition is more prevalent in individuals with AIDS, emphasizing the intricate relationship between immunosuppression and certain malignancies. 6. Scabies Scabies is another common manifestation caused by infestation with a mite, presenting as small bumps and scratches over finger webs, underarms, abdomen, groin, thighs genitals and buttocks. Itching which is intense at night is typical. “Scabies is another common manifestation caused by infestation with a mite, presenting as small bumps and scratches over finger webs, underarms, abdomen, groin, thighs genitals and buttocks. Itching which is intense at night is typical,” says Dr Gupta. “Other viral infections that are common in AIDS include Molluscum contagiosum which presents as multiple painless skin coloured dome shaped bumps and viral warts which present as multiple painless, finger like rough projections over the body. HIV is also associated with inflammatory conditions causing itchy red bumps over the limb and trunk, the cause of which is poorly understood and thought to be due to some kind of hypersensitivity reaction. All these manifestations can serve as clues for early diagnosis facilitating early intervention and better disease outcome,” says Dr Gupta. Prevention tips “Regular skin checks are crucial for individuals with AIDS to detect any abnormalities early. Seeking medical advice promptly allows for timely intervention, preventing the progression of these conditions. Dermatological care, coupled with antiretroviral therapy to manage HIV, plays a vital role in enhancing the quality of life for individuals affected by AIDS,” concludes Dr Kapoor. Catch your daily dose of Fashion, Health, Festivals, Travel, Relationship, Recipe and all the other Latest Lifestyle News on Hindustan Times Website and APPs World Aids Day Hiv Virus