Ramos-Gomez F J
Department of Growth and Development, University of California San Francisco 94143-0438, USA.
Oral Dis. 1997 May;3 Suppl 1:S31-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1601-0825.1997.tb00370.x.
Most infants with congenital HIV infection appear normal at birth. Clinical difficulties usually begin as the first year proceeds, and in about half of the children oral manifestations are the first signs. Oral manifestations are commonly found in HIV-positive asymptomatic and pediatric AIDS patients, they are the earliest clinical signs of HIV infection and disease progression in children, and may be used as diagnostic markers, especially in developing countries. Studies have established an accurate association between oral manifestations and progression of HIV disease in children. Since the mouth is easily accessed for clinical examination, the important oral signs should be utilized in the diagnosis and early intervention of AIDS in these vulnerable populations.
