Oral mucosal lesions in children with severe asthma and acute respiratory viral infections.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: This study investigated the clinical and histological characteristics of oral mucosal lesions in children with acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) and Asthma (BA)-conditions that frequently coexist and exacerbate mucosal damage.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The rationale for the study stems from the lack of comprehensive data on the combined impact of these diseases on oral health. A total of 200 children aged 5-12 years were examined in a hospital setting and divided into 4 equal groups: children with ARVI (Group 1), children with Asthma (Group 2), children with both conditions (Group 3), and healthy children (control Group 4). The experimental design included clinical assessment, mucosal biopsy, histological examination, and quality-of-life evaluation using validated questionnaires.

RESULTS

Results showed that children in Group 3 (ARVI + BA) exhibited significantly more severe mucosal damage, including pronounced hyperemia (3.0 ± 0.5), increased erosions (4.5 ± 1.1), and higher pain scores (3.5 ± 0.6) compared to Groups 1 and 2. The control group (Group 4) showed minimal changes. Histological analysis revealed greater epithelial atrophy and inflammatory infiltration in Group 3.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight the need for tailored therapeutic approaches in children with coexisting ARVI and Asthma to mitigate oral mucosal damage and improve overall health outcomes. The study addressed the lack of comprehensive data on the combined effects of ARVI and asthma on oral health, with findings revealing more pronounced mucosal damage in children with both conditions compared to those with only one.