AIDS in children-epidemiology, clinical course, oral manifestations and management

Abstract

HIV/AIDS has gained enormous proportion globally. In 2007, there were an estimated 33 million people living with HIV and an estimated 270,000 HIV infected children younger than 15 years died because of AIDS, HIV/AIDS can manifest in different forms and in present day scenario, it is imperative that dentists know its clinical presentation and management. Oral manifestations are one of the earliest indicators of HIV infection and progression in children, as in adults, although the specific manifestations differ between adults and children. The aim of this paper is to briefly review, on the basis of literature, the AIDS epidemiology, transmission, clinical course, oral manifestations and their management in children.