Oral candidiasis: A retrospective study of 276 Brazilian patients

BACKGROUND: Although oral candidiasis (OC) is a very common fungal infection of oral cavity, clinical features of affected patients and their demographic profile are not well documented. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to assess the demographic profile of patients diagnosed with OC and its clinical features in an import Brazilian center of oral and maxillofacial pathology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study consisted of 276 patients diagnosed with OC by cytopathology Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) staining, during the period of 20 years. The variables related to patients were gender, age and skin color. Regarding infection, the data collected were location, color, symptoms, early manifestation, or recurrent and associated factors. RESULTS: Male and female were equally affected, and the median age was 43 years. The majority of lesions were of primitive origin, asymptomatic and affecting only one site of oral cavity. The most affected site was the palate followed by tongue. More than a half of the patients (56.2%) had red lesions. The main associated factors related were the use of removable prostheses, bone marrow transplantation and AIDS. CONCLUSIONS: OC affects predominantly adults and elderly, without difference between sex and skin color. Although clinical findings are crucial, cytopathology tests are important complementary examinations to reach a definitive diagnosis. PAS staining seems to be more used in cases of erythematous candidiasis since white lesions are easier to diagnose clinically.