The prevalence of scabies and other cutaneous manifestations and the performance of the medmira rapid HIV test; an experience among hospitalized HIV -infected adults at Muhimbili Medical Center, Dar es salaam, Tanzania

Abstract

The objective of the current cross-sectional descriptive study was to determine the prevalence of scabies among HIV -infected patients. It also aimed at determining other cutaneous manifestations among HIV-positive patients, as well as to determine the performance characteristics and suitability for use in Tanzania, of the MedMira rapid HIV test (MedMira laboratories Inc. Canada). Settings Muhimbili Medical Centre, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Subjects and Methods Three hundred and twenty-five consecutive adult patients admitted to medical wards between February and April, 1998 were included in the study. A detailed history including an interview on their living environment and hygienic behaviour, as well as a thorough physical examination with a full dermatological examination under day-light were done. And, information was recorded on a questionnaire (Appendix I). Skin scraping and punch biopsy were done on patients suspected to have scabies while blood samples for HIV antibody testing were taken from all consenting patients.