Oral Hairy Leukoplakia in Patient with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

Abstract

Oral hairy leukoplakia occurs on the lateral surface of the tongue that clinically as an asymptomatic white lesion. It is mainly found in patient with human immunodeficiency virus infection. However, it rarely outbreak immunosuppressed patients after organ transplantation, or the patients taking steroids or immunosuppressants. It is the result of proliferating Epstein-Barr virus in the oral epithelium. Most of human immunodeficiency virus infected patients with oral hairy leukoplakia are highly contagious and possible to progress acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Therefore, the early diagnosis of oral hairy leukoplakia is very important. Taking a thorough history and human immunodeficiency virus screening test is highly recommended in case oral hairy leukoplakia is detected. In this case, a 29-year-old man presented with whitish lesion on lateral border of tongue is diagnosed as oral hairy leukoplakia and human immunodeficiency virus infection.