Effects of Antiretroviral Therapy to Changes in Salivary pH and Plaque Index on HIV/AIDS

Abstract

Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) are used to eliminate the replication of the HIV virus so it does not continue into the AIDS phase, and prevent another infection that attacks the immune system and their complications. On the other hand, there are side effects ART which are found oral cavity lesions, like formation of white lesions on the lips and buccal mucosa accompanied by complaints of taste disorders, dry mouth, xerostomia, and a burning feeling in the mucosa of patients using Nevirapine, Zidovudine, and Lamivudine. This is caused by enlargement of the salivary glands so that it affects the rate of salivary flow. The purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between antiretroviral treatment of HIV / AIDS patients with plaque index and salivary pH, and the relationship between duration of antiretroviral treatment on these two variables. This study used an observational research method with a cross sectional design by directly observing 100 samples of HIV / AIDS patients using antiretroviral therapy. Data were analyzed using chi square test.

The research found that there was a relationship between antiretroviral treatment in HIV / AIDS patients with plaque index (p = 0.355) and salivary pH (p = 0.042), while analysis of the duration of antiretroviral treatment was less than 5 years and more than 5 years, there was no relationship with plaque index (p-0.726) and salivary pH (p = 0.102).