HTLV-1 - associated infective dermatitis in an adult

Resumen

Abstract
Infective dermatitis is a form of chronic, relapsing eczema described as a specific dermatosis associated with HTLV-1 infection.
It mainly affects children, and only exceptionally adults; thus, few of the latter cases have been published.
We present a case of a 42-year-old woman with generalized eczema of 23 years of evolution, with repeated cutaneous infections exacerbating
the dermatosis, and relapses after antibiotic treatment discontinuation.
Diagnosis of HTLV-1 and virus-associated infective dermatitis is reached with the patient hospitalized, after ruling out adult T-cell leukemialymphoma.
Antibiotic treatment is prescribed, with good response

(Dermatol Argent 2009; 15(1):49-53).

Key words: infective dermatitis, HTLV-1.