Ocular manifestations of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus in an African pediatric population

Abstract

Our data, in agreement with other series reported in the literature, indicate that cotton-wool spots and CMV retinitis, the most common ocular manifestations of HIV/AIDS in adults, are much less prevalent in children. The high incidence of perivasculitis in the present series, not observed or only seen in a few cases in other series, suggests that this ocular sign is more prevalent in African children. Our working hypothesis is that perivasculitis of the retinal vessels, lymphoid interstitial pneumonitis, parotitis, and lacrimal gland involvement are the expression of a diffuse infiltrative lymphocytosis syndrome, similar to what has been described in adults.