Orofacial lesions in 126 newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS patients seen at the University College Hospital, Ibadan

Abstract

Human immune deficiency virus (HIV) infection is one of the most devastating infection in modern times. Oral manifestations of HIV infection occur in approximately 30-80% of patients infected with this virus and the factors, which predispose to these lesions include: CD4 count less than 200cells/mm. viral load, xerostomia, poor oral hygiene and smoking. These manifestations have subsequently become important entry criteria for: clinical trials of various therapeutic regimes, prophylaxis of HIV related opportunistic infections, anti-retroviral trials and vaccine studies. Over a six month period, all newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS patients attending the Special Treatment Clinic at the Haematology Department of the University College Hospital. Ibadan. Nigeria were recruited into this study before anti-retroviral therapy was commenced. As part of the general physical examination of these patients, a thorough orofacial evaluation was also carried out and the findings were documented. The most prevalent orofacial lesions were candidiasis, xerostomia, melanotic Superpigmentation and herpetic ulcer among others. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pattern of oral lesions found in patients who were newly diagnosed as having HIV infection prior to commencement of anti-retroviral drugs and relate these lesions to the age. sex and occupation of the patients. These findings may suggest the likelihood that there is a pattern of oral manifestation of HIV infection.