Abstract

VIDAL MADERA ANAYA, Meisser; JIMENEZ MALAGON, María Del Carmen  and  LUNA RICARDO, Luz Mayda. Prevalence of tongue alterations and related factors in children attending the University of Cartagena, Colombia. Rev. Odont. Mex [online]. 2013, vol.17, n.4, pp.235-239. ISSN 1870-199X.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to describe prevalence of tongue alterations and related factors observed in child patients attending the University of Cartagena, Colombia. Method: The present study was of a cross-sectional, descriptive nature. 134 children were randomly examined after attending consultation during the second semester of 2011. Selected children were subjected to clinical examination, their medical history was reviewed and their mothers were interviewed, in order to ascertain presence of tongue alterations. A classification was undertaken and socio-demographic characteristics were noted as well as possibly related factors (drug intake, anemia, nutritional problems, vitamin B deficiencies, allergies, stress, psoriasis and oral hygiene. Proportions, confidence intervals and χ² statistical test were used, assuming significance lesser than 0.05. Results: Prevalence of tongue alterations was 79.9%. Most frequent lesions were coated tongue (74.6%) and ankyloglossia (5.2%). No statistically significant relationship was found between presence of tongue alterations and assessed factors. Conclusion: Tongue alterations in children were highly prevalent, especially coated tongue cases. Bearing this in mind parents and children should be encouraged to implement healthy oral hygiene habits stressing hygiene of the tongue's dorsal surface.

Keywords : Alterations of the tongue; ankyloglossia; related factors; fissured tongue; geographical tongue; coated tongue.

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