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Research Paper | Paediatrics | India | Volume 12 Issue 11, November 2023 | Rating: 5.1 / 10
Proportion of Early Childhood Caries and Associated Risk Factors among Children Aged Less than 6 Years Attending Paediatric OPD in a Tertiary Care Centre, Kerala
Dr. Shayana Udayakumar | Dr. Shaji S M
Abstract: Background: Early childhood caries (ECC) affects the teeth of children under six years of age. According to the Global Burden of Disease Study in 2017, more than 530 million children globally have dental caries of primary teeth. The disease affects primary teeth and permanent teeth and influences general health and quality of life and is one of the most common chronic diseases of early childhood. Objectives: Primary Objective: To estimate the proportion of early childhood caries among children aged less than 6 years attending Paediatric OPD in a tertiary care centre, Kerala. Secondary Objective: To assess the risk factors associated with early childhood caries among children aged <6 years attending Paediatric OPD in a tertiary care centre, Kerala. Methods :This is a cross sectional study conducted in the Department of Paediatrics at Sree Gokulam Medical college among children below the age of 6 years attending the paediatrics OPDbetween March 2021 to June 2022.704 children who presented to the pediatrics OPD were included in the study population.All the eligible cases who consented to the study, were enrolled using consecutive sampling.Clinical examination of oral cavity was done and dental caries measured using advanced International Caries Detection and Assessment System4 (ICDAS II).The mothers of the children, chosen for the study were interviewed face- to-face using a structured proforma. Results: The prevalence of ECC among our study participants was observed to be 13%. The proportion was more common among boys, children belonging to lower socioeconomic status, belonging to urban origin, children who were bottle fed, brushes only once a day, not exclusively breastfed and who has the habit of consuming snacks, sweets and ice creams. (p value <0.05) With respect to the Sweet score, observed that the ECC was commonly seen among children who were in the watch out zone according to sweet score. Conclusion: ECC was observed to be a significant morbidity among children of less than 6 years, and the risk factors studied had significant association with dental caries
Keywords: Early childhood caries, Prevalence, Paediatric children, Risk factors, Oral hygiene
Edition: Volume 12 Issue 11, November 2023,
Pages: 1708 - 1714