Evaluation and treatment of oral candidiasis in HIV/AIDS patients in Enugu, Nigeria.
BACKGROUND
Oral candidiasis is one of the common diseases seen in HIV/AIDS patients. It is rare if CD4+ cell counts are above 500 microl. Outbreaks are more common as the count drops to 100 microl. It may be more difficult to treat when CD4+ cell counts fall below 50 microl.


METHODS
A retrospective review of 112 HIV/AIDS patients with lesions in the mouth, head, and neck seen at the oral and maxillofacial surgery units of two public hospitals in eastern Nigeria was carried out between 2000 and 2003. The focus was on oral candidiasis patients. Twenty-nine of these patients, made up of 11 males and 18 females, had oral candidiasis. To compare the action of two drugs, namely, nystatin (a topical antifungal drug) and ketoconazole (a systemic antifungal drug), we treated 15 of the patients with nystatin in the first 2 years and the remaining 14 with ketoconazole in the following 2 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Amongst the 15 patients treated with topical drugs, 7 (46.7%) had complete remission, 2 (13.3%) had partial response, 4 (26.7%) remained stationary, and 2 (13.3%) died. Out of the 14 cases treated with systemic drugs, 11 (78.6%) had complete remission, 2 (14.3%) had partial response, and 1 (7.1%) died.
Oji
Chima
C
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria. chimaoji@gmail.com
Chukwuneke
F
F
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007654:Ketoconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009067:Mouthwashes; D009761:Nystatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D009067:Mouthwashes; D009761:Nystatin; D007654:Ketoconazole