Oral soft-tissue manifestations as presenting symptom/sign of HIV infection.

This prospective study reports oral manifestations noted in 17 patients as the first indications of HIV infection, and serves to remind health workers of the need to examine the oral soft tissues thoroughly. This study also demonstrated that other HIV-associated oral lesions are often seen in addition to the presenting symptom or sign, which was highly variable and not lesion-specific. Appropriate management of the patient after recognition of the significance of these signpost oral lesions could affect quality of life, influence the course of the disease and reduce the risk of transmission. Dentists need to be alert to and knowledgeable about these lesions which will become more prevalent as the numbers of HIV-positive persons increase in South Africa.