[ORAL HEALTH STATUS IN HIV-POSITIVE PATIENTS]

Oral manifestations of HIV infection are diverse and not still not completely studied. HIV-associated diseases can occur as the first symptoms of infection, these are characterized by high frequency, clinical polymorphism and pronounced course. Periodontal aspects are also neglected in the literature. No papers on the condition of different areas of the oral mucosa, tongue and periodontium where they were studied simultaneously and according to various criteria have been found in the available literature. The objective of the research is to evaluate the condition of periodontium and the oral mucosa in different parts of the oral cavity in HIV-positive patients. Total number of the HIV-positive patients observed was 90, among them 81 males and 9 females between the age range of 24-62. An average age of the patients was 45.2±8.34, with male patients prevailing (p<0.001). HIV infection was diagnosed by Western-blot reaction. Clinical examination as well as probing and determination of the pocket depth by means of the periodontal probe was carried out to assess the health status of the oral cavity. Periodontal indices were also determined. It has been found that immunocompromised condition due to HIV infection contributes to the oral mucosa lesions. Namely, coated tongue was observed in 100% of cases, the oral mucosa relief impairment was seen in 75.6% of cases, lip cracks of different location and bright red color of the mucous membrane were observed in 73.3% and 82.2%, respectively (р<0.001). Examination of the tongue revealed the symptoms which were not found in the control group, such as tongue coating - in 100% (90 patients observed), epithelial desquamation foci - in 54.4% (49) (p<0.001). Inflammatory diseases of periodontium, particularly catarrhal and hypertrophic gingivitis and periodontitis of moderate severity were also revealed.