HIV associated eosinophilic folliculitis in a Chinese woman: a case report and a survey in Hong Kong

Abstract

This is the first survey of eosinophilic folliculitis EF in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus HIV in Hong Kong. The present report provides the local data on HIV associated eosinophilic folliculitis HIV EF and includes the first Chinese, heterosexual female patient with this condition. This is a retrospective study on all HIV positive patients n =451 attending the outpatient clinic of the AIDS Unit in Hong Kong. Patients diagnosed as having EF with histological support were included for analysis. The data were presented by descriptive method. Three patients were identified, all of them had skin biopsies done which confirmed the diagnosis; including the female case. Recognition of HIV EF is important because it is indicative of significant immunosuppression with risk of opportunistic infection. We concluded that HIV EF is no longer an exclusive male disease in homosexual patients only. We expect more female patients or heterosexual subjects who are HIV positive developing this disease in the future.