The scientists at 7th World workshop on Oral Health and Disease in AIDS (WWOHDA) held in Hyderabad have revealed that a certain type of specific oral lesions can be used to detect AIDS (Acquired immune deficiency Syndrome) in a patient.

“A certain specific type of lesions such as hairy leukoplakia and a form of candidiasis are some of the signs of weak immune system in a person. These lesions can often be the presenting sign of otherwise unknown HIV (Human immune Virus) disease. In fact researchers have even concluded that these can be used as markers of HIV infection,” said Professor John Greenspan, from USA.

Professor John Greenspan, a lead researcher had presented many research papers on oral manifestation of HIV AIDS and he is the pioneer who had started the first world workshop on oral health and disease in AIDS at San Diego in 1988.  Since then there have been 6 WWOHDA held in different cities across the globe.

The workshop organised in collaboration with SIBAR institute of dental sciences from Andhra Pradesh mainly focused on strategic goals of international oral AIDS collaborations. It was mainly aimed at sharing worldwide perspectives, knowledge and understanding of oral health and disease in HIV infections.

The concluding session of the workshop had also come out with a Hyderabad declaration where in it stressed on agreed definitions and classifications of oral disease and need for more research to bring out better treatment procedures and development of a vaccine to have a permanently solution for the deadly disease.

According Professor Venkat Ramana Reddy, chairman of SIBAR Institute of Dental Health and Organizing Secretary for 7th WWOHDA, India has about 2.5 million people suffering from AIDS and is ranking third in the world. “We are facing a lot of challenges while tackling HIV AIDS. A major problem is not having a proper data base of the patients infected with HIV AIDs. With this workshop, lead researchers, doctors and clinicians will share their knowledge, experiences and perspective about the disease and come out with a set of guidelines that would be adopted globally,” said the professor.

The workshop mainly examined the global inequalities in disease and access to care worldwide. It also threw light on ethics in applied research in low income countries.