Dental caries prevalence and dental health behaviour in HIV infected children.
OBJECTIVE
To determine dental caries prevalence in a group of HIV positive children and their reported dental health behaviour.


METHODS
Standardized epidemiological dental examination and structured interview.


METHODS
Paediatric HIV outpatient department in a South London hospital.


METHODS
HIV-positive children attending the above outpatient clinic over a 6-month period (30 subjects) and parents (20 informants).


METHODS
Epidemiological examination of children was undertaken by one trained and calibrated examiner to determine caries prevalence using dmft/DMFT. Parents were interviewed to obtain information on their children's dental health behaviour: toothbrushing, diet, fluoride; oral medication and dental attendance were explored.


RESULTS
Sixty-three per cent (n = 19) of children had dental caries experience, much of it untreated. Mean dmft/DMFT was 4.4. Sixty per cent (n = 18) of all children presented with active or untreated caries and the care index for those at/under age 5 years was low (10%). Unfavourable dental health behaviour included: consumption of nonmilk extrinsic sugars at night, use of sugar-based medications, low fluoride intake, late commencement of toothbrushing and poor dental attendance. Dental health was not considered a priority for many of these children. Parents did not necessarily disclose their child's HIV status on dental attendance.


CONCLUSIONS
Caries prevalence was high, much of the disease untreated, and unfavourable dental health behaviour, including the use of sugar-based medicines was common. HIV infected children should be considered a high caries risk and receive appropriate dental care, in terms of both treatment and preventive services, following confirmation of seropositivity.
Eldridge
K
K
Division of Dental Public Health, Oral Health Services Research & Schools of Nursing, Guy's, King's and St Thomas' Dental Institute, King's College London, UK.
Gallagher
J E
JE
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004245:DMF Index; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017742:Dental Care for Chronically Ill; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D004037:Diet, Cariogenic; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000009:adverse effects; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010348:Patient Care Team; D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014099:Toothbrushing
D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles; D005459:Fluorides