Evaluation of Oral Health Status as an Indicator of Disease Progression in HIV Positive Children

Abstract

RESUMO ABSTRACT DESCRITORESHIV; Contagem de linfócito CD4; Síndrome de Imunodefi ciência Adquirida; Saúde bucal. KEYWORDSHIV; CD4 Lymphocyte count; Acquired Immunodefi ciency Syndrome; Oral health. ISSN -1519-0501 DOI: 10.4034/1519.0501.2010 Objecti ve: To evaluate the oral health status i.e., gingival conditi on, dental caries, oral mucosal lesions progression in a group of HIV positi ve children in relati on to CD4 count. Method: A total of 234 HIV positi ve children in the age group of 2-15 years were included in the present study. Dental caries status was evaluated as per the criteria devised by WHO. Gingival conditi on index was used to assess and criteria given by Muhlemann was used for Papillary Bleeding scores. Plaque was assessed using the Sillness and Loe Index. The children were under acti ve anti retroviral therapy the CD4 count of each pati ent was available from the hospital records. Results: Maximum dmft /defs, score was observed in individuals with CD4 count 200 -500. Whereas highest mean DMFT/DMFS score was seen in children with CD4 count less than 200. The mean plaque, gingival and papillary bleeding score were highest in individuals with CD4 count less than 200 but the diff erence was stati sti cally insignifi cant. Pseudomembranous candidiasis was the most observed oral lesion. Tongue was the most common site of occurrence of oral lesions in all groups. Conclusion:The study confi rms that the oral health status in HIV positi ve children deteriorates with the decline in CD4 count.

Gingival status: An indicator of disease progression and its correlation with the immunologic profile in HIV-infected children on antiretroviral therapy

“…In a similar study conducted by Damle et al (2010) to evaluate the oral health status as an indicator of disease progression in HIV positive children, they concluded that oral health status in HIV children deteriorated with the decline in CD4 counts. It should be noted that regular dental care in HIV infected individuals result in better oral health with no greater cost than regular attendance (Hastreiter and Jiang, 2002).…”

Low prevalence of dental caries in children with perinatal HIV infection

“…Oral health care is an important component of all round care for people with HIV infection. [ 17 ] The lack of healthy, functioning dentition can adversely affect the quality of life, complicate the management of medical conditions, and create or exacerbate nutritional and psychosocial problems. [ 18 ] Some antiretroviral drugs are sucrose-based in the form of a syrup or suspension such as Zidovudine and others may lead to decreased salivation, which makes them potentially cariogenic.…”

Correlation of CD4 count with cariogenic oral flora indicators and dental caries in HIV‐seropositive children undergoing antiretroviral therapy in Mangaluru, South India

“…Oral health is an important component of all‐round care for people with HIV infection . The lack of healthy, functioning dentition can adversely affect quality of life, complicate the management of medical conditions, and create or exacerbate nutritional and psychosocial problems .…”