title: Molluscum contagiosum and dental caries: a pertinent combination.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent decades, there has been a tremendous surge of interest in issues related to child health. The present study was carried out to reveal the DMFT/deft status of children in the age group of 1-12 years, residing in orphanages from Pune, India.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore the DMFT/deft status in various orphanages from Pune (India). To find out differences, if any, between the DMFT/deft status in orphanages from Pune, India, and the general population of children below 12 years of age in Maharashtra state, India as well as all over India.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DMFT/deft of the orphanages was found to be 2.58 in the age group 1-5 years and 2.5 in the age group 6-12 years with caries prevalence in 70.27% of the children. An incidental finding of Molluscum contagiosum was observed in a significant percentage of children. The total percentage of children afflicted by Molluscum contagiosum was found to be 24.32%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The higher incidence of Molluscum contagiosum in children residing in orphanages as compared to the normal population of the same age group was reflected in the higher incidence of DMFT/deft in orphanages as compared to the normal population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, New Horizon Dental College and Research Center, Sakri, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, India. drdentist@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dixit
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chaudhary
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D054540:Child, Orphaned / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D008976:Molluscum Contagiosum / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence