Which feature helps distinguish Oral Hairy Leukoplakia from oral candidiasis?

Which feature helps distinguish Oral Hairy Leukoplakia from oral candidiasis?

• A. Hairy leukoplakia can be scraped off.
• B. Hairy leukoplakia is painful.
• C. Hairy leukoplakia cannot be scraped off.
• D. Hairy leukoplakia is associated with bacterial infection.

Answer: (C)

Oral Hairy Leukoplakia and oral candidiasis differ mainly in their scrappability. Oral Hairy Leukoplakia presents as a white, often corrugated plaque that typically cannot be scraped off because it’s a hyperkeratotic lesion driven by EBV infection in immunocompromised patients (commonly seen with HIV). In contrast, oral candidiasis shows white patches that can usually be wiped away with gentle scraping, often leaving a red or irritated base. So the best distinguishing feature is that this lesion cannot be scraped off.

Oral Hairy Leukoplakia and oral candidiasis differ mainly in their scrappability. Oral Hairy Leukoplakia presents as a white, often corrugated plaque that typically cannot be scraped off because it’s a hyperkeratotic lesion driven by EBV infection in immunocompromised patients (commonly seen with HIV). In contrast, oral candidiasis shows white patches that can usually be wiped away with gentle scraping, often leaving a red or irritated base. So the best distinguishing feature is that this lesion cannot be scraped off.