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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Eur J Dent 2015; 09(03): 449-452
DOI: 10.4103/1305-7456.163219
Case Report
Dental Investigation Society

Erythematous candidiasis leading to systemic manifestations of human immunodeficiency virus co-infection with secondary syphilis: A diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma

Swastika Suvirya
1   Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, King Georges Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
,
Rahul Gandhi
2   Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, King Georges Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
,
Jyotsana Agarwal
3   Department of Microbiology, King Georges Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
,
Ranjitkumar Patil
2   Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, King Georges Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History

Publication Date:
04 September 2019 (online)

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ABSTRACT

The intensification of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and rising frequency of immunocompromised individuals have resulted in a resurgence of opportunistic infections. The most common opportunistic oral fungal infection in HIV-positive individuals is oral candidiasis. The classical presentation is as white scrapable form called as thrush, which is easily diagnosed and treated. The clinician is presented with a diagnostic and management dilemma when these lesions appear in new facades such as erythematous candidiasis, the latter's prevalence with HIV and AIDS being well established. In this case report, we present a case of Erythematous Candidiasis, which was associated with type 1 HIV co-infected with syphilis. We highlight the diagnostic importance of a naive looking manifestation of the tongue which was followed by a series of challenging presentations of secondary syphilis. Since the patient had a negative Veneral Disease Research Laboratory and left us with a management dilemma, the article also features the importance of prozone phenomenon (seen in 2% cases of secondary syphilis), and it's higher association with HIV co-infected individuals. With confusing clinical oral manifestations associated with these diseases, the dentist might be the first person to encounter such lesions, who should be able to recognize erythematous candidiasis and correlate them with the underlying pathology.

Key words:

Erythematous candidiasis - human immunodeficiency virus - prozone phenomenon - secondary syphilis - Treponema pallidum particle agglutination assay - venereal disease research laboratory
 

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