Oral Pathology Related to HIV Infection

Oral Pathology Related to HIV Infection

# Oral Candida (CA) Infection

CA infection comes in many forms:

• Atrophic form:

• Characteristic but often overlooked.

• Commonly found on the dorsal tongue and palate.

• Tongue has areas of papillary atrophy, appearing smooth and glossy.

• Causes burning sensation during eating or may be asymptomatic.

• Pseudomembranous form:

• White plaques appear on an erythematous background.

• Commonly found on the tongue, soft palate, and cheeks.

• White plaques are easily scraped off, leaving a bleeding surface.

• Common in denture wearers.

• Hyperplastic form:

• White, keratinized, elevated lesions, firmly attached to the surface.

• Difficult to remove.

• Commonly found on the buccal mucosa, extending inwards.

• Angular cheilitis:

• Common in middle-aged individuals.

• Not associated with anemia, vitamin deficiency, or lack of adhesion.

# Treatment of HIV-related Fungal Infections

Treatment for fungal infections should last more than 14 days.

# Other Oral Pathology Related to HIV

• Necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis: Also known as “trench mouth”.

• Acute herpes simplex virus (HSV): Almost confirms HIV infection in middle-aged individuals, as acute HSV usually only occurs in children.

• Hairy leukoplakia:

• White patches appear on both sides of the tongue.

• Poor prognosis, often seen in the AIDS stage.

• Folds resemble hair, untreatable.

• Often associated with EBV.

• HPV:

• Associated with warts in children, cervical cancer, and condyloma acuminatum.

• Kaposi’s sarcoma:

• Malignant tumor of the vascular endothelium.

• Not true neoplasia.

• Clinical features:

• Location: tip of the nose, palate (in the mouth).

• Bluish-red, bumpy patches, raised, lobulate, slightly firm to palpation.

• Xerostomia:

• Causes multiple caries and periodontal disease.

• CD8, CD4 infiltration.

• Side effect of ART.

• Teeth are worn down, salivary gland suppression.

• Preventing xerostomia:

• Dental fillings.

• Scaling and root planing.

• Oral hygiene.

• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL):

• Very serious.

• Mainly in the Waldeyer’s ring.

• Soft tissue proliferation and destruction of underlying bone.

• Squamous cell carcinoma:

• Mainly on the tongue.

• Common in young patients, males.

# Note:

This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace the advice of a doctor. If you have any unusual signs or symptoms related to oral pathology, consult a doctor immediately for advice and timely treatment.