Predicting HIV in a public dental facility using group I oral lesions.

UNLABELLED Group I oral lesions have been strongly associated with HIV and in resource-poor settings could be useful predictors of HIV. No study has evaluated the predictability of these lesions in diagnosing HIV/AIDS in patients who attend dental public facilities in South Africa. OBJECTIVES To determine the HIV status, prevalence of Group I oral lesions and their predictive value amongst patients attending a dental clinic in Soweto, South Africa. METHODS This cross sectional analytical study comprised of adult patients attending a dental facility over one week in 2006. All patients underwent a clinical examination by calibrated dentists. RESULTS A total of 165 patients (100% response) were screened of which 87 (53%) were female. The HIV prevalence was 28% (n = 46) and of those who tested positive, 15% (7) manifested with Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis (NUG). This proved to be highly predictive for HIV (positive predictive value = 93.8%, specificity = 99.6% and likelihood ratio = 40). CONCLUSION The high prevalence rate of HIV in dental facilities confirms the heavy burden of the HIV epidemic. NUG proved to be a good predictor of HIV in this setting.