Oral manifestations in HIV+ children in Mozambique.

The scope of this study was to identify the prevalence of oral manifestations in HIV+/AIDS patients at the DIA Pediatric Hospital of Maputo. All 90 patients were included in the research. Data on dental caries (dmft/DMFT index), soft tissues and saliva flow were analyzed. Information on diet and hygienic habits was obtained in a semi-structured questionnaire. The t- student and chi-square tests were used for statistical assessment. The most frequent oral lesion was candidiasis (5.5%) and upon further oral examination the prevalence of parotid enlargement was 23.0%. The mean dmft 2.6 (SD 3.6) was considerably higher in relation to DMFT of 0.6 (SD 1.6), and the differences between them were statistically significant (P<0.05). The occurrence of mucosal lesions was higher in children who did not take antiretroviral therapy (ART) (p = 0.026). The use of ART is associated with reduced prevalence of oral lesions in HIV+ patients; however, rampant caries were highest in this group. Primary dentition of HIV+ patients should be considered high risk for caries.

Oral manifestations in HIV+ children in Mozambique / Manifestações orais em crianças HIV, em Moçambique

O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar a prevalência das manifestações bucais em pacientes HIV+/SIDA do Hospital Pediátrico DIA de Maputo. Foram incluídos 90 pacientes na pesquisa. Cárie dentária (índice ceod/CPOD), mucosa e fluxo salivar foram avaliados. Informações sobre alimentação e hábitos de higiene bucal foram obtidas por meio de um questionário. Para a análise estatística foram utilizados os testes t-student e qui-quadrado. A lesão oral mais frequente foi a candidíase (5,5 por cento) e no exame extra-oral foi observada uma prevalência de alargamento da parótida de 23 por cento. A média do ceod foi 2,6 (± 3,6) dentes, consideravelmente alta em relação ao CPOD que foi de 0,6 (±1,6) dentes, sendo esta diferença estatisticamente significante (p<0,05). A ocorrência de lesões na mucosa bucal foi maior em crianças que não faziam uso da terapia antiretroviral (TRA). O uso da TRA esteve associado com a redução da prevalência de lesões bucais em pacientes HIV+, contudo cáries rampantes foram maiores neste grupo. Pacientes HIV+ mostraram maior risco de cáries na dentadura decídua.

The scope of this study was to identify the prevalence of oral manifestations in HIV+/AIDS patients at the DIA Pediatric Hospital of Maputo. All 90 patients were included in the research. Data on dental caries (dmft/DMFT index), soft tissues and saliva flow were analyzed. Information on diet and hygienic habits was obtained in a semi-structured questionnaire. The t- student and chi-square tests were used for statistical assessment. The most frequent oral lesion was candidiasis (5.5 percent) and upon further oral examination the prevalence of parotid enlargement was 23.0 percent. The mean dmft 2.6 (SD 3.6) was considerably higher in relation to DMFT of 0.6 (SD 1.6), and the differences between them were statistically significant (P<0.05). The occurrence of mucosal lesions was higher in children who did not take antiretroviral therapy (ART) (p= 0.026). The use of ART is associated with reduced prevalence of oral lesions in HIV+ patients; however, rampant caries were highest in this group. Primary dentition of HIV+ patients should be considered high risk for caries.

Dental caries in adolescents from public schools in Maputo, Mozambique.

AIM: To assess dental caries prevalence in adolescents at urban and sub-urban areas of Maputo-City, Mozambique and to identify its relationship with dental fluorosis, dental plaque, nutritional status, frequency of sugar consumption and the concentration of fluoride in public water supply. METHODS: Subjects (n=601) were randomly selected from five urban schools and five sub-urban schools. Clinical examinations were performed under standardised conditions by a trained examiner using DMFT index, SiC index, fluorosis index, PHP, BMI, a sugar consumption questionnaire and water supply analysis. The bivariate analysis and Pearson correlation was used (p < 0.05). RESULTS: The mean (DMFT) was 0.9 (+/- 1.65 SD). Children in urban schools showed less dental caries (0.8 +/- 1.49 SD) than children in sub-urban schools (1.1 +/- 1.80 SD, p = 0.03). Only 8.15% had very mild to moderate fluorosis but most presented poor oral hygiene. Cases of malnutrition were found in more sub-urban schools (n=109; 36.22%) than in urban schools (n=66; 22.00%) (p = 0.03). The frequency of sugar consumption was higher among urban children compared to suburban schools (p < 0.00). The level of fluoride in water consumption in urban schools was 0.4 ppmF, above the level of fluoride in sub-urban schools, 0.2 ppmF. CONCLUSION: Dental caries should not be considered a major oral health problem in Maputo at the moment. However the data suggest the implementation of a population strategy to reduce dental caries rates, in children of both urban and sub-urban areas, in Maputo.