title: An exploration of point, annual, and lifetime prevalence in characterizing recurrent aphthous stomatitis in USA children and youths.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This report presents and contrasts the prevalence of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) in 51 471 children and adolescents from two major studies: the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994 (NHANES III) and the National Survey of Oral Health in USA Schoolchildren, 1986-1987 (OHSC), large USA studies based on multistage probability sampling.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prevalence proportions, 95% confidence limits and multivariate logistic regression models were constructed for point, 12-month, and lifetime RAS prevalence using SAS-callable SUDAAN 8.0.2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Examinations were performed on 51 471 children and adolescents. Point prevalence was 1.51% (NHANES III) and 1.21% (OHSC); annual prevalence was 19.84% (NHANES III); and lifetime prevalence was 40.18% (OHSC). Multivariate logistic models showed that being white, having a history of herpes labialis, (NHANES III), and being white and an adolescent (OHSC) were predictors of RAS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Caution should be used in interpreting 12-month and lifetime RAS prevalence based a subject's recall.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, Baylor College of Dentistry, The Texas A and M Health Sciences Center, Dallas, TX 75246, USA. jshulman@bcd.tamhsc.edu
authors.forename: Jay D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Shulman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006560:Herpes Labialis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012008:Recurrence; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013281:Stomatitis, Aphthous / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001741:Black or African American