Oral Manifestations of HIV Infection Written by Drs. Deborah Greenspan and John S. Greenspan Oral lesions are common in individuals with HIV infection and thus a detailed oral examination is an important part of the regular physical examination. Early recognition and treatment of these oral lesions may reduce morbidity. The oral lesions most frequently seen in and clearly associated with HIV infection are listed below. However, at least 40 oral manifestations of HIV infection have been recorded.
Oral lesions cause significant discomfort and other problems, yet most are readily treated.
They may be the first clinical features of HIV infection and lead to its diagnosis. Their presence is an indication of immunodeficiency and predicts the progression of HIV disease. Click on the section titles below to read the article sections. All rights reserved. This article originally appeared in Vol.