A comparative study of oral manifestations of HIV among pediatric patients

Introduction: The HIV pandemic has become a human, social as well as economic disaster, with far reaching inferences for individuals, communities and countries. The distribution of some of the specific oral manifestations is reported to differ between adults and children. Thus, the present study was carried to compare the oral manifestations in HIV positive children and HIV negative children. Materials and methods: The present study comprised a total of 90 subjects, divided into 3 groups, 30 HIV positive pediatric patients with HAART, 30 HIV positive pediatric patients without HAART and 30 healthy controls (HIV negative patients). The present study was conducted in the ART centre in Ranchi, Chattisgarh, India. The details to be taken from these children for subsequent analysis include age, CD4+ T cell count and oral lesions. Chi- square test was used to compare the lesions with P-value of 0.05 or less was considered for statistical significance and a P-value of 0.02 or less was considered for statistical highly significance. Results: Statistical analysis showed that patients with low CD4+ T cell counts (Group IA) had more number of lesions when compared to the patients with higher CD4 T cell count (Group IB). According to individual lesion percentage distribution, it was observed that except hyperpigmentation most of the other lesions where more prevalent in group II than in group I. Mucocele was seen in group III and was not seen in group I and II. Dental caries was prevalent in all the three groups. Conclusion: HIV infected patients receiving HAART, had a significantly lower prevalence of oral lesion as compared to patients without HAART therapy.