title: Lip and oral lesions in children with Down syndrome. A controlled study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Down syndrome (DS) is the most common chromosomal abnormality affecting numerous organs, including the orofacial region. The objective of the present study was to assess the prevalence of lip and oral soft tissue lesions, with particular emphasize on the incidence of fissured tongue, lip fissures and angular cheilitis, among individuals with DS in Yemen.
  
  
  METHODS
  This controlled cross-sectional study included 50 children with DS (6-18 years), and 50 age-and gender-matched healthy controls. The prevalence of orofacial soft tissue lesions was evaluated in both groups. Data were analyzed by Chi-square and Fisher tests, and p < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten orolabial lesions were identified among the subjects. The most frequently seen lesions were: Fissured tongue (78.0%), lip fissures (64.0%), angular cheilitis (38.0%) and Cheilitis (14.0%). The frequencies of these lesions were significantly higher in children with DS than healthy controls (P< 0.001). Most of lip fissures were in the lower lip, and 80% of the fissures were in the midline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of lip and oral lesions among individuals with DS is remarkably high. Hence, oral physicians should be more aware of the orofacial findings seen more frequently in this genetic disorder. Key words:Down syndrome, lesions, lips, oral.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Sciences, Al-Farabi Colleges of Dentistry and Nursing, Saudi Arabia; Department of Oral Medicine and Diagnosis, Sana'a University, Yemen.
authors.forename: Sadeq-Ali
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Al-Maweri
authors.affiliation: Professor, Head Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Sciences, Al-Farabi Colleges of Dentistry and Nursing,, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Bassel
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tarakji
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Surgery, Al-Kuwait Teaching Hospital, Sana'a, Yemen.
authors.forename: Ghadah A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Al-Sufyani
authors.affiliation: Lecturer, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Sciences, Al-Farabi Colleges of Dentistry and Nursing.
authors.forename: Hashem M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Al-Shamiri
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Maxillofacial Sciences, College of Dentistry, Taibah University.
authors.forename: Giath
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gazal