Oral candidiasis and human immunodeficiency virus infection

Abstract

The association of oral candidiasis with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has been known since the advent of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrom (AIDS) pandemic. Oral candidiasis is one of the earliest premonitory signs of HIV infection and its diagnosis may have grave prognositic implications for the eventual development of full blown AIDS. There is now an expanding body of data on novel clinical variants of this ‘old’disease, its epidemiology in HIV seropositive individuals and, advanes in its management, particulary with respect to the recently introduced bis‐triazole antifungals. Current concepts pertaining to the epidemiology, clinical features, pathogenesis, laboratory diagnosis and management of oral candidiases in HIV infection are reviewed.