Correlation between oral lesions and opportunistic infections among human immunodeficiency virus — infected individuals in Indian population

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a major global health problem. Tuberculosis and cryptococcal meningitis are the leading cause of death among people living with HIV.Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine whether any relationship exists between the occurrence of oral lesions and opportunistic infections among HIV-infected patients in Indian population.Materials and methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was performed in 232 HIV-infected persons (148 males and 84 females, aged 20–60 years, mean 33.6 ± 2.3 years). c2 test and logistic regression were used for statistical analysis.Results: Oral candidiasis was the most common oral lesion seen in 28.4% males and 22.6% females of HIV-infected persons, followed by hairy leukoplakia in 27% males and 20.2% females which was statistically significant. Tuberculosis (21.6%) followed by cryptococcosis (9.9%) and pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (4.7%) were the most commonly found opportunistic infections. Logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association, between the occurrence of tuberculosis and candidiasis (OR 2.3; 95% CI 1.4–2.9), cryptococcosis and candidiasis (OR 1.4; 95% CI 1.0–1.9), and pneumocystis carinii pneumonia with hairy leukoplakia (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.0–2.9). Mean CD4 count was also less.Conclusions: The results suggest a definite relationship in occurrence of oral lesions and opportunistic infections among HIV-infected patients

Effectiveness of oral health education on knowledge, attitude, practices and oral hygiene status among 12–15-year-old schoolchildren of fishermen of Kutch district, Gujarat, India

Background: To assess the effectiveness of oral health education on oral health knowledge, attitude, practices and oral hygiene status among 12–15-year-old school children of fishermen of Kutch district, Gujarat, India.Materials and methods: A before-and-after experimental study was conducted among all (n = 205) the 12–15-year-old children from two schools of Bhadreshwar village of Mundra taluka of Kutch district, Gujarat, India from January 2013 to December 2013. At baseline, children were assessed for oral health knowledge, attitude and practices using a self-administered structured questionnaire and oral hygiene was assessed using Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified (OHI-S). Oral health education was provided after baseline assessment, at 3 months and at 6 months. Follow up study was done after 1 year from baseline. Statistical tests applied were Independent t test, paired t test and McNemar test. Level of significance and confidence level were set at 5% and 95%, respectively.Results: Mean OHI-S scores reduced significantly at 1 year follow up interval. All the questions showed statistically significant improvement in knowledge, attitude and practices except the frequency of change of tooth brush which showed no improvement.Conclusions: The results of the study reflects the accomplishment of upgrading oral health knowledge, attitude, practices and oral hygiene status of fishermen children through school oral health education programme. Organizing oral health education in high school children of fishermen community could lead to improvement in students’ oral hygiene to ultimately enhance their oral health