Abstract
BackgroundChildren continue to suffer from the impact of the human immunodeficiency virus‐acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) pandemic. In Cape Town, these children receive medical care including antiretroviral therapy from facilities like Tygerberg Hospital's Paediatric Infectious Diseases Clinic. HIV‐infected children may experience an increased caries experience when compared with their healthy peers.AimThe aim of this study was to determine the oral health status of HIV‐infected children younger than 12 years receiving antiviral drugs at the Paediatric Infectious Diseases Clinic.DesignA cross‐sectional survey was conducted among children aged between 2 and 12 years presenting at this clinic. Caregivers were interviewed to obtain information regarding health seeking behaviour, oral hygiene practices and dietary habits. A single clinician undertook a standardized clinical intraoral examination according to the World Health Organization guidelines, with modifications.ResultsSixty‐six children were recruited. A high prevalence of dental caries (78.8%) and an unmet treatment need of 90.4% were recorded among the participants. Most children had never visited the dentist, and those who did had mainly received emergency dental care.ConclusionThe high prevalence of severe dental caries in this population highlights the need for oral health awareness and the inclusion of oral health care in the comprehensive care of children with HIV.Why this paper is important to paediatric dentists The study highlights the importance of collaborating with health professions outside of dentistry.Doctors and nurses are often the first health professionals to come into contact with children with special needs. They should therefore be made aware of the early signs of decay so that these patients can be referred for dental treatment timeously.Holistic management of children with special healthcare needs is essential to improve their overall well‐being.
Highlights
Since the discovery of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in 1981, the virus has continued to wreak havoc globally with new infections continuing to surface and HIV-related deaths still being registered
The overall caries experience in the primary teeth was 78.1%, with minor differences between the two age and gender subgroups (Table 1)
A high proportion of children in this study presented with a severe pattern of dental caries
Summary
Since the discovery of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in 1981, the virus has continued to wreak havoc globally with new infections continuing to surface and HIV-related deaths still being registered. Children constitute a vulnerable population as they continue to suffer the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. A study carried out in South Africa, which reported on the prevalence of HIV in different parts of the country, estimated a prevalence of 5.6% in children between the ages of 2 and 15 years in the Western Cape Province (South African National HIV Prevalence, Incidence and Behaviour Survey, 2012). Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the oral health status of HIV-infected children younger than 12 years receiving antiviral drugs at the Paediatric Infectious Diseases Clinic.
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