A Twelve-year-old girl from Nigeria with HTLV-1 infective dermatitis

Abstract

Abstract

Back ground

HTLV-1 infective dermatitis (IDH) is a chronic and rare skin disease mainly described in children from Jamaica and Brazil as endemic regions. It is characterized by a eczema that is recurrent and chronic associated with scally, erythematous, crusted skin lesions predominantly involving the seborrheic areas , papular rashes that are generalized, chronic nasal discharge and crusting of the anterior nares with staphylococcus aureus or beta-hemolytic streptoccus infection that is non-virulent due to immunosuppression induced by HTLV-1 infection, lymphadenopathy, anaemia, pruritus as well as increased occurrence of infections like scabies. It may predispose patients to develop other conditions associated with HTLV-1 such as adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma.

The diagnosis of HTLV-1 infective dermatitis is challenging to both the clinicians and dermatopathologists.

Methods:

Here we report a case of a 12year old girl with HTLV-1 infective dermatitis who presented to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital Paediatric dermatology clinic.

Conclusion:  HTLV-1 infective dermatitis is a heterogeneous skin condition in children which should be differentiated from other common conditions like seborrheic dermatitis especially in non-endemic areas for a successful management.

Key words:  HTLV-1 infective dermatitis, Children, Kano, Nigeria.