[Oral manifestations, CD4+ T-lymphocytes count and viral load in Brazilian and North-American HIV-infected children].

Abstract Oral manifestations related to HIV infection were evaluated in 184 children of both genders, aging 0-13 years. The oral exams were carried out at the Ambulatory of Pediatric AIDS, Sao Lucas Hospital and at the Clinics Hospital, both in Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil, and at the University Hospital and School of Dentistry, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY, USA, from January 1999 to May 2000. A high prevalence of oral manifestations was observed both in Brazilian (72.73%) and American (53.66%) children. The most frequent manifestations were cervical lymphadenopathy, swelling of the parotids, erythematous candidiasis, petechia, gingivitis, xerostomia and angular cheilitis. Children with oral manifestations had almost normal counts of CD4+ T lymphocytes and high viral load.