PREVALENCE OF ORAL LESIONS IN DERMATOLOGICAL DISEASED PATIENTS

Abstract

Background: Oral mucosal lesions often serve as early indicators of systemic dermatological diseases, yet remain under-investigated in clinical practice, particularly in low-resource settings. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence, types, and site distribution of oral mucosal lesions among dermatological patients in Maiwand Teaching Hospital, Kabul, Afghanistan.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2024 to March 2025, involving 42300 patients coming to the Dermatology Department and 858 patients diagnosed with oral lesion conditions. Oral examinations were performed to identify co-existing mucosal lesions, categorized by type and location. Data were analyzed using IBM Statistical SPSS Version 25, with descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to assess associations (p<0.05 considered significant).

Results: Females constituted the majority of participants (64.1%), with the 41-50 age group being most affected. Candidiasis was the most frequent oral mucosal lesion (26.5%), followed by lichen planus (19.7%) and pemphigus vulgaris (16 %). The tongue was the most commonly involved site in the oral cavity (64.0%), and plaque formation (56.2%) was the most prevalent lesion type. Bullous lesions showed a statistically significant association (p=0.024), highlighting their diagnostic importance in vesiculobullous disorders.

Conclusion: Oral manifestations are prevalent among dermatological patients and show diverse clinical presentations. These findings underscore the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration between dermatologists and oral medicine specialists for early diagnosis and integrated management. Incorporating oral examinations can enhance patient outcomes, especially in resource-limited settings.