Relationship of Oral Lesions and CD4 Count in Female HIV Patients in South Western Nigeria.

Background: Oral lesions have been reported to be early clinical features of HIV infection. Objective: The purpose of this study was to establish the prevalence of oral lesions in HIV Seropositive female patients and correlate the CD4 count with the appearance of oral lesions in the female patients attending Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin (UBTH). Methods: A prospective study was undertaken in 172 newly diagnosed adult HIV infected female patients (not on antiretroviral therapy), who attended the PEPFAR clinic at LUTH and the HIV Clinic of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria. They were assessed for oral lesions which were evaluated using EEC/WHO (2003) – Classification on the diagnostic criteria for oral lesions in HIV. Data were collected using an interviewer administered questionnaire. Following Oral examination undertaken, oral lesions were detected, recorded and treated. CD4+ values were evaluated from blood samples of patient at presentation. Results: A total of 172 HIV infected female patients were enrolled into the study. The age range of the participants was 18-65 years, (mean age: 36 + 9.2 years). The commonest oral lesion observed was pseudomembranous candidiasis (n=42, 35.9%); followed by melanotic hyperpigmentation (n=14, 12%) and Linear gingival erythema (LGE) was 12 (10.3%) cases. A high prevalence of oral lesions was seen in patients with low CD4+ count (<200 cells/mm3). P value = .001. Conclusion: Oral lesions are common features of HIV and were seen more in patients with low CD4 count.

A review of 156 Odontogenic Tumours in Calabar; Nigeria

Background: Odontogenic tumours occur in our environment and because of late treatment; cause considerable disabilities. Objective: To review cases of odontogenic tumours in our centre in order to obtain a baseline data and subsequently compare the results with that obtained elsewhere. Patients and methods: Using hospital case files and register; we carried out a 15-year retrospective study of odontogenic tumours at the Dental and Maxillofacial Clinic; University of Calabar Teaching Hospital; Nigeria. The data documented include age; gender; duration of lesion; type of tumour; socio-economic class; type of surgery; and complaints during follow-up reviews. Results: Majority of the patients (n=49; 31.4) were in the third decade of life. There were 85 (54.5) males and 71 (45.5) females; giving male to female ratio of 1.2:1. There was a significant association between the type of odontogenic tumour and the age of occurrence (p=0.000). The longer the duration of symptoms before presentation; the larger the tumours (p=0.000). The benign odontogenic tumours were 151 (96.8); ameloblastoma (n=74; 47.4) being the commonest. Jaw resection (54.5) was the predominant treatment. Majority (58.0) of the complications following treatment were Facial deformity; malocclusion and impaired mastication. Conclusion: Majority of the patients was in the lower socio-economic class; presented late for treatment and a few with aesthetic and functional impairment returned for secondary surgery. The intervention of agencies of government and non-governmental organizations is required to assist these patients if we are to accomplish the core healthcare system values in our environment

Aetiological Factors for Mandibular Fractures Seen in the University of CalabarTeaching Hospital; Calabar; South-South Nigeria

The objective of this study was to determine prospectively the common aetiological factors leading to fractures of the mandible in patients seen in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH); Calabar; Nigeria. A total 252 patients with fractures of the facial skeleton were seen out of which 174 (69) presented with mandibular fractures over a period of two years. Road traffic accidents; both vehicular road and traffic accidents (VRTA) and Motorcycle road traffic accidents (MRTA) were the commonest cause (79.9) of mandibular fractures with MRTA accounting for 36.2of total and 45.3of all the RTS's followed by assault; sporting events; falls from heights; gun shot and industrial accidents. Majority of the patients were males 142 (81.6) with fewer females 32 (18.4) giving a male-female ratio of 4.4:1. Most of the patients were aged between 21 and 30 years. Government should ban use of motorcycle as a means of commercial transportation and make more motor vehicles available for this purpose