Prevalence of Oral Lesions in Hospitalized Patients with Infectious Diseases in Northern Brazil

Karina Gemaque,Cristiane Furuse,Vera Cavalcanti De Araújo,Gustavo Giacomelli Nascimento,José Luiz Cintra Junqueira

doi:10.1155/2014/586075

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of oral lesions in infectious-contagious diseases patients being treated in the University Hospital of the Federal University of Pará, northern Brazil. One hundred seven patients with infectious diseases were clinically investigated for oral lesions at the University Hospital of Pará, northern Brazil. From total sample, most patients were men (65.7%) with a mean age of 45.4 years. About prevalence of systemic diseases, tuberculosis was the most frequent illness, followed by AIDS, hepatitis types B and C, leishmaniasis, and meningitis. Analyzing oral manifestations, periodontal diseases and candidiasis were the most prevalent diseases in both genders, followed by recurrent aphthous ulcers, saburral tongue, simplex herpes, and squamous cell carcinoma. Of all 107 patients, only 10 males and 6 females did not present any oral manifestation. There was no statistical difference between genders with any systemic condition (P > 0.05). The great prevalence of oral manifestations in hospitalized patients with systemic disorder emphasizes the need of integral dental care in this context, aiming at a multidisciplinary approach of patients. Therefore, presence of some oral conditions, such as candidiasis, should be an alert to different systemic conditions, once in assistance with physicians; dentists can influence the early diagnosis and treatment.

Highlights

In the world, high population density, inadequate water supplies, and inadequate sewage disposal systems aided in the spread of infectious diseases and contributed to high urban mortality levels for most of the 19th century [1]
The emergence or reemergence in the 1980s of such diseases as the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and tuberculosis demonstrated that gains against infectious diseases cannot be taken for granted [2]
It is important to note that patients with tuberculosis and leishmaniasis did not present typical lesions from these specific illnesses in the mouth

Summary

Introduction

High population density, inadequate water supplies, and inadequate sewage disposal systems aided in the spread of infectious diseases and contributed to high urban mortality levels for most of the 19th century [1]. The tissues of the oral cavity frequently reflect the condition of a person’s general health and often may indicate the presence of a systemic disease, since many lesions or diseases occur primarily within the oral cavity [3]. These lesions may be useful adjuncts to these clinical diagnoses and occasionally can be the presenting sign or symptom of a specific systemic disease, such as an infection by the HIV virus [4]. Presence of some infectious diseases in mouth can still reveal patient’s condition or a therapeutic response, being an adjunct to clinical conduct and prognostic.

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Conclusion