Oral manifestations among people living with HIV/AIDS in Tanzania

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of various oral and peri-oral manifestations in people living with HIV/AIDS in Tanzania.

METHODS

A cross sectional study. A total of 187 persons with HIV infection were recruited from non-governmental organisations serving people living with HIV/AIDS, 16.6% were males and females 83.4%. Information on weight and height, as well as extra oral and intra oral examinations for different manifestations were gathered. Treatment and referral for special care were offered.

RESULTS

At least one oral lesion was present in 45% of the participants. Candidiasis (28.9%) and non-tender lymphadenopathy (11.8%) were the most common lesions. Candidiasis occurred most frequently on lips/mucosa, and the tongue, and pseudomembranous candidiasis was the most frequent type. Candidiasis occurred with several other conditions and was statistically significantly associated with low body mass index (BMI).

CONCLUSION

This community survey carried out in an African sub-Saharan country showed that oral lesions are frequent among people living with HIV/AIDS. As emphasised by the World Health Organization Global Oral Health Programme, national HIV/AIDS programmes should incorporate oral health components.

Tooth and lip mutilation practices and associated tooth loss and oral mucosal lesions in the Makonde People of southeast Tanzania

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of tooth and lip mutilation (TLM) and the prevalence of tooth loss and the associated oral mucosal lesions among adults in south east Tanzania.

DESIGN

A cross sectional, clinical study and questionnaire administration.

SETTING

Rural population in southeast Tanzania.

SUBJECTS

Randomly selected 217 adults aged 40 years and older.

RESULTS

About 16% of all participants performed tooth mutilation. There were more females (20.6%) than males (11.3%) who performed tooth mutilation but the difference was not statistically significant. There was only about 17% of participants in the age group 40-54 years who performed tooth mutilation while there was 50% and 32% in the age groups 55-64 years and 65-95 years and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Tooth loss due to mutilation was significantly (P < 0.001) less than tooth loss due to other reasons in the anterior teeth and there was no tooth loss due to mutilation in the posterior teeth. Lip mutilation in form of piercing the upper lip and inserting a wooden stick called "ndonya" was found only in women. No oral mucosal lesions were found in this study group.

CONCLUSION

Tooth mutilation does not lead to significant tooth loss and lip mutilation and the use of "ndonya" does not cause oral mucosal lesions in this society. Extraction of anterior teeth due to other reasons was significantly higher than extraction following mutilation while in the posterior teeth there was no tooth loss due to tooth mutilation.

Tooth loss among habitual chewing-stick and plastic toothbrush users in the adult population of Mtwara, rural Tanzania1

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to determine the extent and type of tooth loss in relation to habitual chewing-stick (CS) and plastic toothbrush (PT) users in adults.

METHODS

A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in Mtwara's rural population aged >or=40 years. A total of 206 randomly selected study participants - males (55.8%) and females (44.2%) - were interviewed on oral hygiene practices using a structured questionnaire, and a clinical examination performed for assessment of tooth loss.

RESULTS

Of the total, 93.2% were partially edentulous, 2.4% completely edentulous and those with no tooth loss 4.4%. The total number of missing teeth were 1728 (mean, 8.38 +/- 7.9), and the causes were caries (74.9%), mutilation (4.8%) and others including periodontal and trauma (20.3%). There was no significant difference in the mean number of tooth loss between the upper and lower jaw, and between males and females. However, the mean number of missing teeth in the lower jaw was higher in females than in males (P = 0.04), and on lower left than lower right jaw (P = 0.008). Lower molars, especially first molars, were the teeth lost most often. Tooth-cleaning devices included PT (51.5%), CS (25.7%), both type (BT; 17.0%) and unspecified (5.8%). The differences in the mean number of missing teeth were higher in CS than habitual PT users (P = 0.024) and in BT (P = 0.029). Tooth loss was also higher among those who brushed once when compared with those who brushed two times or more per day (P = 0.046).

CONCLUSION

Tooth loss was significantly higher in CS than PT habitual users and affected mostly the lower molars and especially the first molar. However, for economical reasons, effective use of CS should be promoted for enhanced tooth retention.