Kwashiorkor in Patients With AIDS

Kwashiorkor, a form of severe protein-energy malnutrition that entails loss of lean body weight, occurs endemically among children in many parts of the world but also has been documented in adults. We report a case of kwashiorkor in an HIV-positive adult male. Cutaneous findings are striking, and skin, hair, and nails are affected. Although kwashiorkor occurs in patients with HIV-AIDS, the skin manifestations have not been emphasized in the dermatologic literature. Indeed, dermatologists may play a vital role in diagnosing this treatable condition.