Seroprevalence study of HIV‐I, HIV‐II and HTLV‐I among patients at the Dermato‐Venereology Clinic of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital

Background Seroprevalence studies of HIV‐I and HIV‐II that have been reported in Nigeria were among commercial sex workers and blood donors. There are no data from STD patients and dermatologic patients. Methods A seroprevalence study of HIV‐I, HIV‐II and HTLV‐I was prospectively conducted among STD clinic attendees and among patients with dermatoses which have been linked with HIV disease. The studies were done in 1992 and 1994. Results Some patients had more than one seropositive type. In 1992, the percentages of seropositive results to HIV‐I, HIV‐II and HTLV‐I were 31, 19 and 50, respectively, and in 1994 the percentages of HIV‐I and HTLV‐I were 65 and 35, respectively. Conclusions Patients should be routinely screened for HTLV‐I, in addition to HIV‐I and HIV‐II, among blood donors and also neurology clinic attendees In Nigeria. They should also be screened for retroviral infections when they present with dermatoses clinically suggestive of papular urticaria, onchodermatitis, or papulonecrotic tuberculids.