title: Oral health considerations in HIV-infected children.
abstract: Children with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have a higher probability of hard and soft oral tissue diseases because of their compromised immune systems and socioeconomic factors such as poor access to medical and dental care and limited availability of fluoridated water or toothpaste. To improve health outcomes and help monitor the progression of HIV, a preventive, child-specific oral health protocol for children with HIV that is easy to use and appropriate for all different resource settings should be established. Further, both medical and dental health practitioners should incorporate such a protocol into their care routine for HIV-infected children. Using proactive oral health risk assessments complemented by scheduled follow-up visits based on individual risk determination can prevent opportunistic infection, track the HIV disease trajectory, and monitor the effectiveness of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) while improving the quality of life and longevity of children living with HIV.
authors.affiliation: UCLA School of Dentistry, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, Box 951668, CHS Room 23-020B, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1668, USA. frg@dentistry.ucla.edu
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Ramos-Gomez
authors.forename: Morenike Oluwatoyin
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Folayan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D009909:Oral Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents