Dermato-venereal manifestations in HIV infection and its severe evolution stage, AIDS, is of particular importance in tropical zones: We may be suspicious of the viral infection and consequently to ...request serologic tests to confirm it. We get an explanation of the virus transmission during heterosexual relations by the frequent occurrence and importance of the genital manifestations, leading to consider AIDS as a true sexually transmitted disease. Beside the classical opportunistic infections, the authors draw the attention to three types of manifestations: prurigo, already well known in Haïti and Africa capillary dystrophies, already reported in Haïti donovanosis that, because its epidemiological and etiopathological peculiarities, should be listed within the possible opportunistic infection if we take into consideration the regional pathological environment. In an other correction, syphilis, lepra and cutaneous leishmaniasis have to be carefully monitored, because they are capable to evaluate unexpectedly in some immunodepressive diathesis. Importance of dermato-venereal pathology in black people in tropical zone is explained by the weakness of cutaneous corneal stratum, immunologic disorders linked up to accumulated parasitic pathologies, socio-cultural life with a sexuality without complex.
In fight against Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD), 231 cases of genital ulcers were observed, in 1985 and 1986, in Cayenne (French Guiana) according to a clinical and laboratory study protocol ...described by the authors. The diagnosis shown, in 146 cases, one STD agent, with a high frequency of chancroid, herpes genitalis and primary syphilis. In addition, 18 cases of mixed genital infections are described: emphasis is laid on the great diversity of these associated diseases. 67 genital ulcers had not been caused by a STD agent, however in each case a complete laboratory investigation was done, and each patient received a treatment according to the diagnosis.
The authors report the two first proven cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania mexicana amazonensis in French Guiana. They present some observations on the situation of cutaneous ...leishmaniasis epidemiology in this country.
Condylomatous form of Bowen's disease of the vulva Basset, A; Maleville, J; Grosshans, E ...
La semaine des hopitaux : organe fonde par l'Association d'enseignement medical des hopitaux de Paris,
1972-Apr-20, Volume:
48, Issue:
19
Journal Article
The French Guyana is an Overseas French Department in South America, with 100,000 inhabitants among them are 20% of Haitian immigrants. At 31 December 1987, 103 AIDS cases have been recorded, 86% by ...heterosexual transmission. The first case dated May 1979 was retroactively diagnosed in an Haitian parturient, thank to her serum kept in the Pasteur institute of Cayenne. 44 women got their pregnancy during their HIV infection: 5 with clinical and biological evidence of AIDS, 7 developed AIDS after getting pregnant, and 10 out of these 12 women died. All of them were from a rather low social group and, generally, were not married. 43 are black (40 Haitians and 3 Guyanese Creoles), one is Indian and presented some psychic disorders. The mean age was 32 1/2 (from 15 to 51 years old). 55 babies were born: 12 developed AIDS (6 died during the first 15 months of their life); 14 are HIV +, 3 stillborns, 4 never tested and 22 developed negative reaction (with ELISA and Western-Blot) between 7.5 and 10 months of their life. Two Hutchinson's triads were observed. Prurigo is the most commonly skin manifestation observed.
This report describes the results of epidemiological surveillance of cutaneous leishmaniasis in French military personnel in French Guiana. Data was collected regarding microscopic diagnosis, ...clinical manifestations, and lesion location as well as compliance with vector control measures. Year-to-year variations in the incidence in the general population have been attributed to changes in climatic conditions. Monitoring incidence and density curves, correlation of findings with local epidemiological data, and analysis of the most recent epidemic in 1998/99 (326 cases, attack rate 3.2% men years) highlight the importance of behavioral factors. The proportion of total cases involving military personnel varied widely from 20 to 85%. Investigation consistently showed that failure to apply elementary protective measures against sandfly bites was the most determinant factor in this proportion. Strict compliance with these measures appears to reduce the risk of infection considerably.
