• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.49 no.3
• /
• pp.65-70
• /
• 2024

This paper highlights the importance of oral manifestations as indicators for early human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) detection through two case studies. HIV, responsible for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), damages CD4+ T-lymphocytes, leading to severe immunosuppression and increased vulnerability to various infections. Oral lesions often appear early in HIV infection and can signal disease progression. The study underscores the role of dentists in identifying these lesions, which can serve as crucial markers for HIV. We used two cases to illustrate the importance of screening in HIV patients. The first was a patient presented with oral soreness and a mass on his tongue. Despite having a positive HIV test result in a previous medical examination, but patient had intentionally concealed his infection. The second was a patient experienced dry mouth and burning sensation, with symptoms unresponsive to repeated antifungal treatments and suspected esophageal fungal infection. This led to the discovery of an HIV-positive status in a patient previously unaware of his infection. In both cases, oral manifestations played a crucial role in the early diagnosis of HIV/AIDS. These manifestations can be particularly useful for identifying HIV in patients who are asymptomatic or unaware of their status. Although oral lesions, such as oral candidiasis and oral hairy leukoplakia, are not exclusive to HIV but are more prevalent and severe in HIV-positive individuals. The findings support routine HIV screening and the critical role of dentists in recognizing oral signs of HIV infection to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.29-43
• /
• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to review and evaluate the effectiveness of oriental medicine per oral for recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC). Methods: We searched articles from Korean journal databases including Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology, Korean studies Information Service Studies, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Cochrane Library, PubMed. Searched keywords were "재발성 칸디다성 외음질염", "recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis", "㚆发性外阴阴道假丝酵母菌病", "中藥". Results: 10 randomized controlled trials with 700 patients were identified and reviewed. 8 studies compared combination of oriental medicine and anti-fungal agent with anti-fungal agent, and 6 of them reported that treatment group (TG) showed statistically higher total effective rate or cure rate and lower recurrence rate. One study compared oriental medicine and anti-fungal agent and TG showed statistically higher total effective rate and lower recurrence rate after 1 month. One study compared combination of oriental medicine and lacto bacillus capsule with lacto bacillus capsule, and TG showed statistically higher total effective rate and lower positive fungul test rate after 6 months. No severe adverse response was reported. Conclusions: Our review found that oriental medicine per oral is effective for alleviating symptoms, lowering recurrence rate and positive fungal test in RVVC patients. We recommend standardized randomized controlled trial guideline should be made to obtain stronger evidence and well designed trials with larger sample sizes are needed.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.92-96
• /
• 2018

Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC) is characterized by increased susceptibility to chronic and recurrent infections of the skin, mucous membranes, and nails by Candida species. It is a primary immunodeficiency disorder that is difficult to diagnose because of its heterogeneous clinical manifestations and genetic background. A 20-month-old boy who did not grow in height for 3 months was diagnosed as having hypothyroidism and he had hepatitis which was found at 5 years old. He presented with persistent oral thrush and vesicles on the body, the cause of which could not be identified from laboratory findings. No microorganism was detected in the throat culture; however, the oral thrush persisted. Immunological tests showed that immunoglobulin (Ig) subclass IgG and cluster of differentiation (CD)3, CD4, and CD8 levels were within normal limits. We prescribed oral levothyroxine and fluconazole mouth rinse. The patient was examined using diagnostic exome sequencing at the age of 6 years, and a c.1162A>G (p.K388E) STAT1 gene mutation was identified. A diagnosis of CMC based on the STAT1 gene mutation was, thus, made. At the age of 8 years, the boy developed a malar-like rash on his face. We conducted tests for detection of antinuclear antibodies and anti-dsDNA antibodies, which showed positive results; therefore, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was also suspected. Whole exome sequencing is important to diagnose rare diseases in children. A STAT1 gene mutation should be suspected in patients with chronic fungal infections with a thyroid disease and/or SLE.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.40 no.4
• /
• pp.163-168
• /
• 2015

Lichenoid dysplasia is a lichenoid features with epithelial dysplasia clinically and histopathologically similar to oral lichen planus. It can be clinically mistaken for oral lichen planus, but has histopathologic features of dysplasia and a true malignant predisposition. The clinician should be able to differentiate between oral lichen planus and lichenoid dysplasia for the proper management. We experienced a 75-year-old man with erosive, erythematous lesion on the left buccal mucosa previously diagnosed as oral lichen planus. He underwent surgical excision and the final histopathological result confirmed it to be lichenoid dysplasia with massive candidal infection. We report this case with a review of the related literature.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.47 no.4
• /
• pp.212-216
• /
• 2022

Osteomyelitis in the oral and maxillofacial area is a relatively uncommon inflammatory disease that occurs due to odontogenic causes such as endodontic infection, facial trauma, insufficient blood supply caused by some medical conditions, and iatrogenic postoperative infections. Among them, the incidence rate of candida osteomyelitis in this area is minimal; therefore, no consensus on the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis has not been established yet. With the increasing number of immunocompromised elderly patients, candida osteomyelitis of the jaw is expected to become more prevalent. In this case report, we present an 81-year-old male patient with candida osteomyelitis of the jaw, including the maxillary and ethmoid sinuses.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
• /
• v.50 no.12
• /
• pp.732-742
• /
• 2012

White lesions of the oral mucosa are a common clinical finding that often present first to general dentist. Some white lesion may have possibility of malignancy. Leukoplakia is the most common "potentially malignant disorder" of the oral mucosa. Leukoplakia is at present defined as "A white plaque of questionable risk having excluded (other) known disease or disorders that carry no increased risk for cancer.". Therefore, it is important for general dentist to be familiar to clinical differential diagnosis of leukoplakia from the known white lesions such as candidiasis, lichen planus, leukoedema, frictional keratosis, and so on. It is also important to decide whether such lesions require further investigation through the biopsy. As a result of biopsy, the presence of epithelial dysplasia in the leukoplakia is still the strongest predictor of future malignant transformation. In this article, oral white lesions that must be differentiated from potentially malignant disorders or early invasive squamous cell carcinoma will be reviewed together with presenting clinical cases.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
• /
• v.55 no.7
• /
• pp.468-480
• /
• 2017

A wide variety of benign and malignant lesions and other diseases can develop on oral mucosa. Oral mucosal lesions can also be associated with an underlying systemic disease, so their correct diagnosis, which may even share similar clinical and demographic features, is always a challenge for a dentist. Common oral mucosal lesions include candidiasis, herpes viral infection, leukoplakia, recurrent aphthous stomatitis, pemphigus, lichen planus and benign migratory glossitis. The differential diagnosis of these lesions are based on a thorough review of the patient's past medical and dental history and a complete oral examination. The knowledge of clinical features such as size, location, morphology, color, and pain is helpful in establishing a diagnosis. In addition, diagnostic tests, including microbiologic and laboratory tests and biopsies are usually required for establishing a proper diagnosis.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.29-36
• /
• 2017

Objectives: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). People with AIDS are much more vulnerable to infections, including opportunistic infections and tumors, than people with a healthy immune system. The objective of this study was to correlate oral lesions associated with HIV/AIDS and immunosuppression levels by measuring clusters of differentiation 4 (CD4) cell counts among patients living in the middle western regions of Ghana. Materials and Methods: A total of 120 patients who visited the HIV clinic at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and the Regional Hospital Sunyani of Ghana were consecutively enrolled in this prospective and cross-sectional study. Referred patients' baseline CD4 counts were obtained from medical records and each patient received an initial physician assessment. Intraoral diagnoses were based on the classification and diagnostic criteria of the EEC Clearinghouse, 1993. After the initial assessment, extra- and intraoral tissues from each enrolled patient were examined. Data analyses were carried out using simple proportions, frequencies and chi-square tests of significance. Results: Our study included 120 patients, and was comprised of 42 (35.0%) males and 78 (65.0%) females, ranging in age from 21 to 67 years with sex-specific mean ages of 39.31 years (males) and 39.28 years (females). Patient CD4 count values ranged from 3 to 985 cells/mL with a mean baseline CD4 count of 291.29 cells/mL for males and 325.92 cells/mL for females. The mean baseline CD4 count for the entire sample was 313.80 cells/mL. Of the 120 patients we examined, 99 (82.5%) were observed to have at least one HIV-associated intraoral lesion while 21 (17.5%) had no intraoral lesions. Oral candidiasis, periodontitis, melanotic hyperpigmentation, gingivitis and xerostomia were the most common oral lesions. Conclusion: From a total of nine oral lesions, six lesions that included oral candidiasis, periodontitis, melanotic hyperpigmentation, gingivitis, xerostomia and oral hairy leukoplakia were significantly correlated with declining CD4 counts.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.46 no.3
• /
• pp.84-87
• /
• 2021

Morsicatio buccarum is a condition caused by chronic cheek biting. It means frictional hyperkeratosis by repetitive cheek biting, which may be associated with obsessive compulsion. Clinically it presents as rough, shaggy, whitish, often peeling surface. We report a 9-year-old female patient who complained oral ulceration on both buccal mucosa. The initial diagnosis was oral candidiasis because of whitish plaques which were peeled off. Topical antifungal agent was ineffective and the symptom did not disappear. By incisional biopsy, she was diagnosed with morsicatio buccarum. A soft oral appliance was placed in the patient's oral cavity. Although morsicatio buccarum improved significantly when the appliance was used, the oral lesion had a tendency to recur, when the patient stopped using the appliance. In case of recurrence, cognitive behavioral therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder is needed for the fundamental treatment.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.47 no.3
• /
• pp.126-134
• /
• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to propose an efficient treatment approach for infection with different candida species. Methods: Fifty-three patients who presented with a chief complaint of oral mucosal pain and exhibited positive candida culture findings were divided into two groups (Candida albicans and non-albicans). Pain, mucosal manifestations, salivary flow rates, durations of disease and treatment, and responses to treatment (nystatin and clonazepam) were investigated in both groups. Results: Patients in the C. albicans group exhibited more prominent clinical characteristics (erythematous lesions, tongue coatings, and hyperalgesia) than those in the non-albicans group. In total, 70% of patients in the non-albicans group showed no abnormalities in the oral mucosa. Patients in the C. albicans group showed increased resistance to nystatin treatment compared to those in the non-albicans group, especially with longer disease durations. The patients resistant to nystatin treatment showed positive responses to clonazepam. Conclusions: Patients with oral mucosal pain should be tested for the presence of Candida, even in the absence of mucosal abnormalities, especially those infected with non-albicans species. If no response to antifungal therapy is observed, treatment with clonazepam should be initiated, especially in patients infected with C. albicans.