Oral soft tissue manifestations in HIV-positive vs. HIV-negative children from an inner city population: a two-year observational study

PURPOSE: Data accrued after two years of longitudinal observation of oral soft tissue lesions in a cohort of HIV-infected children and comparisons to a group of uninfected controls is presented. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred and four HIV-positive subjects were enrolled from an inner city pediatric HIV clinic and HIV-negative household peers served as control. Oral exams were performed at six-month intervals while laboratory data of interest were obtained from the children's medical records. RESULTS: HIV-positive children had significantly more oral soft tissue lesions than their HIV-negative peers. In particular, the prevalence of candidiasis, linear gingival erythema and median rhomboid glossitis were high. However, oral lesions were not good predictors of mortality and only candidiasis was associated with a low CD4 count. CONCLUSIONS: Oral soft tissue lesions were common among HIV-positive children. While candidiasis was correlated with advanced disease, oral lesions were not good predictors of mortality.