Oral health in pre-school children with asthma--followed from 3 to 6 years.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate caries and its determinants in preschool children with and without asthma, followed from 3 to 6 years.


METHODS
Caries, plaque, and gingivitis were examined at 3 and 6 years of age in 64 asthmatic children and 50 matched, healthy control children. Furthermore, at 6 years radiographic examination and saliva sampling were conducted. The parents were interviewed about various oral health-related factors.


RESULTS
Initial caries increment between 3 and 6 years of age was statistically significant higher for children with asthma compared with children without asthma (P < 0.05). Asthmatic children had more bleeding gingivitis and a higher consumption of sugary drinks than healthy children at 3 years of age (P < 0.05). At both 3 and 6 years of age, the asthmatic children were more frequently mouth breathers than healthy children, only statistically significant for 6-year olds (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Preschool children with asthma at 3 years of age run a higher risk of developing caries lesions until 6 years of age compared with children without asthma. Children with asthma have a higher prevalence of bleeding gingivitis, a higher intake of sugary drinks and are more frequently mouth breathers than preschool children without asthma.
Stensson
Malin
M
Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Institute for Postgraduate Dental Education, Jönköping, Sweden. malin.stensson@hhj.hj.se
Wendt
Lill-Kari
LK
Koch
Göran
G
Nilsson
Mats
M
Oldaeus
Göran
G
Birkhed
Dowen
D
D000367:Age Factors; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000150:complications*; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000150:complications*; D004037:Diet, Cariogenic; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D009058:Mouth Breathing / Q000150:complications*; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D009909:Oral Health; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013256:Steroids / Q000008:administration & dosage
D013256:Steroids