Cariogenic microbiota of children under chemotherapy: A pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the cariogenic microbiota of children who are under antineoplastic therapy.


METHODS
Twenty-seven patients undergoing cancer treatment in the Pediatric Unit of Mato Grosso Cancer Hospital were selected. The inclusion criteria of volunteers were being under chemotherapy in the saliva collection period, age between 2 and 18 years, collaborate with the protocol for clinical examination and saliva collection, and responsible have given their written consent. For the realization of lactobacilli and Streptococcus mutans count in the patients' saliva, respectively, Dentalcult I and II (LaborClin; ) kits were used.


METHODS
Kruskal-Wallis and Fisher's exact tests were used to assess the association of the variables age group, prevalence of lactobacilli and S. mutans, diagnosis of patients, presence and level of decay of patients defined by decayed, filled, and missing teeth (DMFT)/dmft indexes with a significance level of 5%.


RESULTS
The group of patients consisted of 27 children, 15 males, and 12 females; 44% were aged between 6 and 10 years; 61% had present or past history of caries (dmft/DMFT >0); 48% had low value for Dentalcult I; 59% presented value grade 0 to Dentalcult II; and 63% were diagnosed with acute lymphoid leukemia.


CONCLUSIONS
There was a high prevalence of dental caries in the study population but low rates of S. mutans and lactobacilli in the saliva of the children. Lactobacilli rate was significantly associated with caries index scores, and the prevalence of caries was directly associated with the age group of the children.
Master's Program in Integrated Dental Scieces, Cuiaba, Brazil.
Luiz Evaristo Ricci
LE
Volpato
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Cuiabá Dental School, University of Cuiabá, Cuiaba, Brazil.
Annelyze Podolan
AP
Kloster
Master's Program in Integrated Dental Scieces, Cuiaba, Brazil.
Lenieser Fajardo
LF
Nunes
Master's Program in Integrated Dental Scieces, Cuiaba, Brazil.
Fabio Luis Miranda
FL
Pedro
Master's Program in Integrated Dental Scieces, Cuiaba, Brazil.
Alvaro Henrique
AH
Borges
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D064307:Microbiota; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D009909:Oral Health; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016388:Tooth Loss
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents