HIV AND THE OROFACIAL REGION – OUR EXPERIENCE

Objectives: This study aims to scrutinize the manifestations of HIV/AIDS lesions in the orofacial region in relation to patients’ CD4 counts and the impact of HAART.
Methods: A cross sectional hospital based audit of all patients presenting with HIV associated lesions and assessment of HAART duration and correlation with follow up at the satellite clinics managing these patients as seen at the oral and maxillofacial clinic in Kenyatta National Hospital.
Results: There were 49 patients, 25 males and 24 females. The age range was 7 – 68 years. All patients had at least one lesion. The most common identified lesions were squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) involving the orofacial region (20/49) followed by Kaposi’s sarcoma (13/49). The CD4 counts were; <200 (14/49), 200-500 (10/49) and 25 cases CD4 count was not indicated. 38 cases were on 1st line HAART and 11 were naïve to HAART
Conclusions: CD4 count <200 was noted to lead to an increase in the severity of the orofacial lesions and SCC was noted to be highly prevalent. Longevity of HAART in HIV/AIDS patients may be leading to a natural evolution of these lesions hence need for a routine oral examination at the satellite clinics and at the comprehensive care centres.