Oral manifestations of HIV-infection and AIDS

ABSTRACT

Oral lesions associated with HIV-infection were included in the early descriptions of the disease. These oral manifestations occur frequently and at an early phase of the disease. There is evidence that some oral lesions (oral candidiasis and oral hairy leucoplakia) may be predictive of the development of AIDS in HIV-infected persons. HIV induces a defect in the patient's immune system allowing the development of opportunistic infections and neoplasms. Described in this article are the most important lesions. In the oral cavity HIV-associated lesions are of fungal; bacterial; viral neoplastic and unknown origin