title: Oral manifestations of HIV infection in 600 South African patients.
abstract: Oral lesions associated with HIV infection, as classified by the EC-Clearinghouse on Oral Problems related to HIV infection and the WHO Collaborating Centre on Oral manifestations of the immunodeficiency virus, were studied in 600 consecutive HIV-infected patients in Cape Town, South Africa. One or more lesions were seen in 60.4% of cases. Combined candidal lesions were evident in 37.8%, hairy leukoplakia in 19.7% and combined gingival/periodontal lesions in 8.5% of patients seen. Lesions less commonly recorded include oral ulceration (2.9%) and Kaposi's sarcoma (1.5%). The clinical range of lesions seen is similar to those reported elsewhere, but socio-cultural differences allowed no reliable comparison. More than a quarter of our patients had oral soft tissue discomfort necessitating treatment; in 3.3% these were the presenting symptom. This indicates a potential major public health concern requiring education in recognition and appropriate referral and management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine & Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of the Western Cape and WHO Oral Health Collaborating Centre, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Arendorf
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bredekamp
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Cloete
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sauer
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005882:Gingival Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D017733:Leukoplakia, Hairy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D019226:Oral Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D015995:Prevalence; D011634:Public Health; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000453:epidemiology; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014944:World Health Organization