Bibliographic Info
GuidelineGuidelines on the treatment of skin and oral HIV-associated conditions in children and adults
Year of Publication2014
Issuing InstitutionWHO
Recommendation
Status
Updated
Recommended in favor
Conditional
Certainty of evidence
Very low
Additional symptomatic therapy is recommended for the duration of the persistent symptoms with, depending on severity:
- oral antihistamine; if no adequate response, add
- topical corticosteroids (class 3, 4, 5 or 6, e.g. betamethasone valearate); if no adequate response, add
- oral itraconazole; if no adequate response, add
- permethrin 5% cream (applied above the waist)
Notes and Remarks
- 1)Drugs: Even though the quality of evidence is very low, betamethasone should be used if pruritus persists; if betamethasone is not available, other class 3, 4, 5 or 6 potent topical corticosteroids can be used instead.
- 2)Caution should be exercised in the use of oral antihistamines in young infants. Dosage should be adjusted by age and weight.
- 3)Itraconazole is excreted into human milk and therefore is not recommended for breastfeeding mothers. Cases of congenital abnormalities have been shown following itraconazole treatment