title: Oral manifestations of gastrointestinal diseases in children. Part 1: General introduction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alterations of the oral cavity are common in children: 22% of children aged less than 4 years and 44% of those aged more than 12 develop dental erosion, 9-95% of children in Europe and in North America develop gingivitis, with adolescents showing a prevalence of more than 60% (Linee guida - Ministero della Salute 2013). Alterations within the oral cavity can be the first sign of systemic diseases and may thus allow for an early diagnosis and treatment. In particular, being the oral cavity a part of the gastrointestinal system, oral alterations can be an expression of a gastrointestinal disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A prompt recognition of sYstemic diseases through a careful examination of the oral cavity could allow the child to have appropriate investigations and to be managed in a timely fashion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Milan, Ospedale dei Bambini Vittore Buzzi, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mantegazza
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Laser therapy Istituto Stomatologico Italiano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Crippa
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Milan, Ospedale dei Bambini Vittore Buzzi, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: G V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Zuccotti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000209:etiology; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D013281:Stomatitis, Aphthous / Q000209:etiology; D014077:Tooth Erosion / Q000209:etiology