title: Oral mucosal status and salivary IgA levels of HIV-infected children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pediatric HIV is a major world health problem, which is progressing at an alarming rate. Lesions in the mouth and in other tissues and organs (oral and systemic lesions) in pediatric HIV infection are diverse and show differences in clinical presentation and severity from that of adults. Very little data exist for oral lesions in pediatric population in India. To assess oral mucosal status of HIV-infected children and to correlate it with their salivary IgA levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group consisted of 150 HIV-infected children aged 6-18 years. They were divided into two groups. Group 1: Children prior to anti-retroviral therapy, Group 2: Children undergoing anti-retroviral therapy (for not more than 3 years). Criteria given by Ramos-Gomez for diagnosis of oral lesions commonly associated with HIV infection in children were used to record the oral lesions. Salivary IgA levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant difference in mean secretory IgA (SIgA) levels between the groups (P ≤ 0.05). All the children had one or more oral mucosal lesions, with angular cheilitis being the most common lesion. There was a significant inverse relation between SIgA levels and individual oral mucosal lesions (P ≤ 0.05). The number of oral lesions was inversely related to the SIgA levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral mucosal lesions were a significant feature of HIV-infected infection, particularly in children prior to the onset of anti-retroviral therapy. All children showed low SIgA levels. Early recognition and management of oral conditions are important to improve the quality of life in these children.
authors.affiliation: The Oxford Dental College and Hospital, Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Priya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Subramaniam
authors.forename: Krishna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D000293:Adolescent; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000175:diagnosis; D002613:Cheilitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D002648:Child; D004890:Erythema / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005882:Gingival Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000032:analysis*; D017733:Leukoplakia, Hairy / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010859:Pigmentation Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D013281:Stomatitis, Aphthous / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory
keywords: HIV infection; oral mucosa; saliva