[Oral manifestations and dental caries in children exposed to human immunodeficiency virus].
OBJECTIVE
Determining oral manifestations and dental caries amongst children exposed to the immunodeficiency virus (HIV).


METHODS
Thirty-seven (n=37) children attending the Colombian AIDS Control Program (PRONASIDA-Lara) pediatric service were studied. Parents and guardians were informed about the purpose of the study and its confidentiality. An oral examination was conducted by a dentist; parents/guardians were asked about their children's history of oral manifestations and this was corroborated with their clinical charts.


RESULTS
The mean age was 5.15±3.79; 62.2 % were males. Ninety-eight point eight percent had become vertically infected. Most of the children were classified in the A immune suppression category (35.1 %). The highest percentage (37.8 %) of children were in the 15 %-24 % total CD4+ lymphocyte category. The most prevalent oral manifestations were oral candidiasis, angular cheilitis, linear gingival erythema and parotid enlargement. There was a significant statistical difference between percentages of CD4 lymphocytes and angular qualities (p<0.05). Forty-five point nine percent had dental caries and 54.1 % were in "urgent" need of dental treatment. The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) showed that ¾ of the children needed dental treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the study led to concluding that there was a need for an oral manifestation management-based strategy focusing on clinical and preventative treatment, as oral manifestations are frequent in children suffering from HIV infection.
Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Social, Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado, Barquisimeto, Venezuela. mdavila@ucla.edu.ve
María E
ME
Dávila
Maritza
M
Gil
D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D004245:DMF Index; D019140:Dental Care for Children; D017742:Dental Care for Chronically Ill; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008047:Lip Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010309:Parotitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D013283:Stomatitis, Herpetic / Q000453:epidemiology