Candidose oral: análise retrospectiva de 303 casos

Abstract

Introduction: Oral Candidosis (OC) is an opportunistic fungal infection caused by fungi of the genus Candida spp. OC can present in many forms and degrees of severity and manifests itself mainly in the presence of local and/or systemic factors that favor fungal proliferation. The most common signs and symptoms of OC are pain, burning, xerostomia and metallic taste in the mouth, and the treatment consists, mostly, in antifungal drugs based on polyenes and azoles, such as the Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy (aPDT). Objective: this study aims to perform a a retrospective study of patients with OC diagnosed in the Stomatology Service of the Department of Dentistry over a period of 10 years, to analyze clinical, therapeutic and follow-up aspects. Methodology: Data related to gender, age, use of medications, presence of comorbidities, clinical presentation, treatment performed, and follow-up time were collected through the clinical records of patients diagnosed with OC in the period from 2011 to 2021, archived at the Stomatology Service of the Department of Dentistry, UFRN. The data were submitted to statistical analysis and appropriate tests for the retrospective study. Results: 303 patients were diagnosed with OC during the period evaluated. Of these, 82.2% (n = 249) were female and 52.7% (n = 137) were pheodermic. The mean age was 56 years, with a standard deviation of ± 13.1. The most prevalent clinical type was erythematous candidiasis (74.3%; n = 225), and the most frequently used treatment was topical use of nystatin in 44.2% of cases (n = 136) and miconazole in 25.7% of cases (n = 18). The mean follow-up time for these patients was 2.5 ± 1.5 weeks. Also, greater susceptibility of patients with anemia to develop more than one clinical type of OC was found. Conclusions: Thus, we highlight the relevance of the dental surgeon's knowledge about the different clinical types of OC and possible forms of treatment, as well as the influence of comorbidities and use of medications. It also emphasizes the importance of a detailed analysis of the general health condition and habits of the patient, in addition to a meticulous physical examination, to promote more resolutive forms of treatment and a greater effectiveness in preventing opportunistic infections.