Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2007. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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New Vision (Kampala) - October 28, 2007
Rehema Aanyu
Francis Tirwomwe and E. Agwu, researchers at Kampala International University's western campus in Bushenyi, revealed that a total of 605 (about 73.2%) of HIV/AIDS patients attached to The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO) centres in southwestern Uganda, suffer from oral lesions.
Oral lesions are opportunistic bacterial and sometimes viral infections that occur inside the mouth of HIV-infected people. These infections can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated early.
According to the research, 469 (77.5%) of those affected are women while 136 (22.5%) are men, of which 35.5% are married.
Infections like oral candidiasis were diagnosed in 68.4% of HIV infected people, while pseudeomembrnous candidiasis constitutes 51.4%.
Other oral lesions like erythematous candidiasis and angular cheilitis were also diagnosed.
Tirwomwe and Agwu said primary health care workers need to be trained on the appropriate management of these infections.
"Drugs need to be availed in healthcentre IIIs and IVs so that patients can easily access them," Tirwomwe said. He cited long distances to health services as one of the reasons why the infections were prevalent.
The most affected persons were peasant farmers (71.7%), followed by traders (5.1%), students (4.5%) and teachers (3.8%).
Opening the conference, the director general of health services, Dr. Sam Zaramba, recognised the high prevalence of oral diseases in Uganda and the high financial impact they have on individuals and the community.
He called upon Ugandans to eat healthy diets and increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables in accordance to the World Health Organisation's global strategy on diet.
Zaramba also called for the promotion of oral health care in schools to improve and develop oral health care and practices in children.
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