Introduction: Addressing the scarcity of data on therapeutic and evolutional aspects of herpes zoster in Cameroon, the present study aims to describe the clinical, therapeutic and evolutional profiles of herpes zoster among HIV-infected patients in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Material and methods: From March to May 2015, we conducted a descriptive cohort study at the day-care unit of the Yaoundé Central Hospital, Cameroon. All HIV infected patients visiting the unit, diagnosed with herpes zoster during dermatology consultations, and volunteering to participate in the study were included. They were subsequently followed up at 15 days, at one, and two months.
Results: Overall, 38 patients (78.9% females) were enrolled. The mean age was 39.7 ± 12.6 years. Herpes zoster enabled the diagnosis of HIV infection in 60.5% of cases. The median CD4 count equaled 186 (interquartile range, 70-316) cells/mm3. At presentation, 26 patients (68.4%) were presented with acute dermatologic lesions, predominantly localized on the chest (34%). All patients complained of pain at the initial visit. Acyclovir was prescribed to twenty patients (52.6%) for 10 days. A decline in the proportion and intensity of pain was noticed over time, though there was no significant difference between those on acyclovir and their acyclovir-naïve counterparts (p > 0.05).
Conclusions: This study confirms herpes zoster as a mode of revelation of HIV infection in our context, though its prevalence may be low. Herpes zoster-related pain may be of moderate to severe intensity; therefore, it requires more attention when managing affected patients.