DENTAL CARIES PREVALENCE IN CHILDREN AND YOUTHS WITH VERTICALLY-TRANSMITTED HIV/AIDS FROM THE PEDIATRIC HIV CLINIC

Introduction: among the oral pathologies afflicting children with HIV/AIDS is dental caries, a preventable disease if detected and controlled in its early stages to avoid further complications. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of caries in children and youths with vertically-transmitted HIV/AIDS from the Pediatric HIV Clinic in Cali, Colombia, in 2013, and to explore relationships with biological factors. Methods: descriptive prevalence study in 101 clinical records of children and youths aged 1 to 17 years with vertically-transmitted HIV/AIDS from the Pediatric HIV Clinic in Cali. The ICDAS and DMF/def classification systems were used. Multivariate analysis and confounding variable adjustment were included to explore relationships with demographic, paraclinical, nutritional, and dental factors. The institutional ethics committees endorsed the study. Results: the prevalence of caries experience in children with HIV was 34.65% DMF/deft 3.29 [+ or -] 3.06. This prevalence increases 83.17% with the ICDAS system. The point prevalence of active caries was 74.26% DMFT 5.68 [+ or -] 5.48. No statistically significant association was found with any socioeconomic or immunologic variables. Patients with moderate to severe immunosuppression had OR 1.13 CI95% (0.33-3.81) p = 0.84. A probable association was found with plaque index OR 4.58 CI95% (1.44-14.55) p = 0.006 and caries experience OR 4.21 CI95% (1.09-16.13) Conclusion: HIV patients from the Pediatric Clinic show high caries prevalence when pre-cavitated lesions are assessed. No probable association was found between caries and immunological or clinical status, and therefore this aspect is not an additional risk factor. Key words: dental caries, HIV/AIDS, epidemiology Introducción: entre las patologías bucales que aquejan a los niños con VIH/SIDA se encuentra la caries dental, entidad prevenible si se detecta y controla en sus etapas iniciales para evitar mayores complicaciones. El objetivo del presente estudio consistió en determinar la prevalencia de caries en niños y jóvenes con VIH/SIDA de transmisión vertical de la Clínica Pediátrica de VIH, de Cali, Colombia, 2013, y explorar relaciones con factores biológicos. Metodología: estudio descriptivo de prevalencia en 101 historias clínicas de niños y jóvenes de 1 a 17 años con VIH/sida por transmisión vertical de la Clínica Pediátrica de VIH, de Cali. Se usaron los sistemas de clasificación ICDASy COP/ceo. Se incluyó análisis multivariado y