Department of Dentistry, AIIMS, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India.
J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent. 2024 Jul 1;42(3):184-189. doi: 10.4103/jisppd.jisppd_219_24. Epub 2024 Sep 9.
Chemotherapy, a cornerstone treatment for childhood cancers, can negatively impact oral health. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and evolution of oral complications in these patients.
A prospective observational study enrolled 44 children diagnosed with malignancy undergoing chemotherapy at a tertiary care institute in central India. Oral examinations were performed at baseline, with follow-ups at 3-6 and 9-12 months. Data collected included demographics, medical history, oral hygiene practices, and oral lesions. Blood counts and World Health Organization grading for mucositis were used. Descriptive statistics and appropriate statistical tests analyzed the data (P ≤ 0.05).
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) was the most prevalent malignancy. Children reported various oral complaints such as ulcers, bleeding gums, and difficulty eating. Mucositis prevalence significantly decreased over follow-up visits (baseline: 56.8% and second follow-up: 13.3%). Gingival inflammation was present, though mean scores decreased over time. Oral hygiene scores varied without significant changes. Caries experience scores increased from baseline to follow-up.
This study identified a high prevalence of ALL and diverse oral complications in children undergoing chemotherapy. While mucositis severity lessened over time, other issues such as caries persisted. These findings highlight the critical need for preventive oral care strategies to safeguard this vulnerable population's oral health.
化疗是儿童癌症的主要治疗方法，但会对口腔健康产生负面影响。本研究旨在评估这些患者口腔并发症的发生率和演变情况。
一项前瞻性观察研究纳入了在印度中部一家三级保健机构接受化疗的 44 名恶性肿瘤患儿。在基线时进行口腔检查，并在 3-6 个月和 9-12 个月时进行随访。收集的数据包括人口统计学、病史、口腔卫生习惯和口腔病变。采用血细胞计数和世界卫生组织（WHO）对黏膜炎的分级进行评估。采用描述性统计和适当的统计检验对数据进行分析（P≤0.05）。
急性淋巴细胞白血病（ALL）是最常见的恶性肿瘤。患儿报告了各种口腔问题，如溃疡、牙龈出血和进食困难。黏膜炎的患病率在随访期间显著下降（基线：56.8%，第二次随访：13.3%）。牙龈炎症虽然存在，但随着时间的推移评分有所降低。口腔卫生评分存在差异，但无显著变化。龋齿患病评分从基线到随访期间有所增加。
本研究发现，接受化疗的儿童中 ALL 和多种口腔并发症的发生率较高。尽管黏膜炎的严重程度随时间减轻，但其他问题如龋齿仍持续存在。这些发现强调了迫切需要采取预防性口腔护理策略，以维护这一脆弱人群的口腔健康。
