Oral histoplasmosis associated with HIV infection: a comparative study.

OBJECTIVE: Histoplasmosis is a granulomatous fungal disease caused by Histoplasma capsulatum. The objective of the present paper was to describe the prevalence of oral histoplasmosis (OH) in two services from an endemic area in Argentina between 1991 and 2002 and to compare the clinicopathological profile of OH between HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients.

METHODS: About 733 HIV+ (group A) and 14 260 patients (group B) were examined. Clinical diagnosis was confirmed by cytology, biopsy or culture.

RESULTS: About 21 (3%) and 10 (0.07%) cases of OH were diagnosed in group A and B respectively. Most patients were male. A total of 90% of patients in group A were <45 years old whereas 70% of group B were more than 45 years old. Palate, gingiva and oropharynx were the most frequent locations. The importance of including histoplasmosis in the differential diagnosis of ulcerated oral lesions in immunocompromised patients was discussed.