Comparison of Oropharyngeal Manifestations in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19 and HIV/AIDS: A Single Center Retrospective Study Download PDF

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant effect on people with HIV because of restricted access to treatment facilities. Oral health is crucial for preventing systemic problems, such as bacterial infections or septicemia. These are serious effects for immunocompromised individuals. Oral lesions are the initial clinical manifestations of HIV infection and act as dependable markers of immunosuppression. This highlights their crucial role in the early assessment, identification, and management of these individuals. This study examines the oral symptoms observed in 156 healthy, COVID-19, and HIV-infected individuals amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The individuals recruited for this study were patients of the Constanța Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases, between April 2021 and October 2022 which delayed their visit to healthcare facilities because of restricted access during the pandemic. Two patients were COVID-19 positive, other 52 were diagnosed with HIV and receiving antiretroviral treatment, and 52 healthy individuals were recruited as the CONTROL group. The lesions were identified based on clinical examination and laboratory results. Oral lesions remain prevalent in HIV-infected individuals throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. They are significant clinical signs appearing early and affecting up to 74% of HIV-infected individuals (CD4+ T cells <1640uL). Oral health affects physical and emotional well-being by potentially compromising oral aesthetics and altering different functions of the mouth as well as reducing the quality of life for patients. It is essential to include oral in the medical care of HIV-positive patients.