The Correlation between Intestinal Parasitic Infections and Bruxism among 3-6 Year-Old Children in Isfahan.
BACKGROUND
Given the fact that bruxism is a prevalent oral habit among children and a potential destructor of oral tissues, the present study aimed to investigate the relationship between intestinal parasitic infections and bruxism among kindergarten children.


METHODS
Questionnaires were administered among parents of kindergarten children in Isfahan to select 50 children identified by their parents to have the habit of bruxism and 50 without the habit as control group. Informed consent was obtained prior to the investigation. Parents were delivered sampling instruments with proper instructions to collect stool samples from both groups for parasitological tests. The diagnostic parasitological tests involved the direct stool smear, formol-ether concentration, and Scotch tape tests. Comparison for the frequency distribution of intestinal parasitic infections between the two groups was performed using the chi-square test (α = 0.05).


RESULTS
Parasitic infections were observed in 19 (11/50 cases and 8/50 controls) children. A statistically significant relationship was observed between infection with pathogenic parasites and bruxism (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that pathogenic parasites may serve as the cause of initiation of bruxism habits among children.
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Torabinejad Dental Research Center, School of Dentistry, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Maryam Haje Norouzali
MH
Tehrani
Nader
N
Pestechian
Hoseinali
H
Yousefi
Hajar
H
Sekhavati
Hajar
H
Attarzadeh