International journal of STD & AIDS
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Eight patients, 3 men and 5 women, aged between 24 and 40 years who had herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) were seen in the Eye Department of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu between 1994 and 1997. One of the patients was already on treatment for active pulmonary tuberculosis at the time he was first seen. All had skin eruptions at different stages of development in the area of distribution of the first trigeminal nerve on the affected side of the face and head. ⋯ During this period skin eruptions and anterior segment signs improved in 5 patients while remaining stable in 3 others; post-herpetic neuralgia persisted on the affected side in 4 patients. Patients who were HIV seropositive did not recover as quickly or to the same extent as the seronegative ones. It is concluded that HZO infection may indicate underlying HIV infection in young Africans as has been found in whites.