ABSTRACT
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is associated with several life-threatening emergencies that need quick intervention. Due to underlying immunosuppression and low CD4 counts, HIV-infected cases are more prone to develop complications due to opportunistic infections. Increased life expectancy leads to a greater number of people presenting with various noninfectious complications and other emergencies. With the introduction of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART), the patterns of critical illness in HIV-infected cases have observed a subtle shift. The most common cause of intensive care unit admission in HIV-infected cases remains acute respiratory failure due to pneumonia. However, post-antiretroviral therapy (ART), the most common causative agent is bacterial rather than Pneumocystis. With increasing use of cART, the incidence of its adverse drug reactions, such as severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions (Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis) and lactic acidosis, is also on the rise. cART-related immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome can give rise to medical emergencies. Though HIV-related dermatological emergencies may be smaller in number, many medical emergencies have dermatological manifestations as presenting symptoms, making the role of dermatologists crucial.
