Prevalence of skin disease in HIV-positive pregnant women

Background The rate of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in women of reproductive age has increased dramatically in the last decade. The effects of pregnancy on the prevalence of cutaneous diseases in this group is unclear. Objectives To compare the prevalence of cutaneous diseases in healthy pregnant women, HIV-positive pregnant women, and HIV-positive nonpregnant women. Methods Fifty HIV-positive pregnant women and 52 HIV-positive nonpregnant women were compared with a control group of 50 HIV-negative pregnant women for the prevalence of cutaneous diseases. Results The prevalence of cutaneous diseases was higher (65%) in the HIV-positive nonpregnant group than in the HIV-positive pregnant group (42%) or the control group (28%). Infectious diseases were more frequent in the HIV-positive nonpregnant group. Conclusions Pregnancy does not seem to increase the prevalence of cutaneous diseases that occur during the course of HIV disease.