Search

Purpose/Background: Transgenders are a highly vulnerable subset within the high-risk group for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in India. Oral manifestations are among the early signs of HIV infection. This study was conducted with the aim to assess the oral mucosal lesions among the HIV-positive transgenders in Odisha taking antiretroviral therapy as well as those not taking antiretroviral therapy. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among HIV-positive transgenders in four districts of Odisha. Snowball nonprobability sampling technique was adopted, and type IV clinical examination was performed using the modified WHO record form for oral manifestations in HIV/AIDS (2013). Independent sample t test was used to compare mean age among those taking ART with those not taking ART. Chi-square test was used to detect the associations among categorical variables. Results: The study comprised of 163 participants, 109 (71.24%) who were taking antiretroviral therapy, while 44 (28.76%) not taking antiretroviral therapy. The mean age was 32.56 + 7.69 years. Sex work was the most predominant occupation. Majority of the participants reported of having hyperpigmentation of different parts of oral mucosa. Aphthous ulcer and angular cheilitis was noticed in 14.72% and 9.20%, respectively. Other manifestations noticed included erythematous candidiasis, pseudomembranous candidiasis, oral hairy leukoplakia, necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis, herpetic stomatitis/gingivitis and/or labialis, herpes zoster, warty like lesions/human papillomavirus, other ulcerations (not otherwise specified/necrotizing ulcerative stomatitis), and dry mouth due to decreased salivary flow. Conclusion: Careful evaluation of oral manifestations can improve the quality of life of these marginalized, highly vulnerable population.

Context: Vulnerable population groups such as migrant workers are identified as emerging high-risk groups for oral cancer owing to the high prevalence of smokeless tobacco consumption. Premature deaths due to oral cancer can be prevented by screening the population with high tobacco consumption practices and detecting early reversible stages of oral mucosal cavity lesions and facilitating linkages for further care. Aim: To assess prevalence of potentially malignant oral mucosal cavity lesions among tobacco consuming migrant construction workers in sub-urban Chennai, India. Settings and Designs: A workplace based cross-sectional study design. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at workplaces i.e., construction sites for screening potentially malignant oral mucosal cavity lesions among migrant workers across 23 construction sites of Chennai during September 2019 - February 2020. An onsite, group health education session was provided about the harms of tobacco use to the migrants. Statistical Analysis Used: Data entered in MS Excel was analysed using SPSS and multivariate analysis was performed. Results: Among 640 migrants included in the study, 411 (64.2%) were less than 30 years of age, 623 (97.4%) were from north-eastern states of India such as West Bengal, Bihar, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand. A considerable size (272, 42.5%) could not read or write and 355 (55.4%) earn a monthly income of less than ten thousand rupees. Current tobacco users were 619 (96.7%), smokeless tobacco users (463, 72.34%), smokers (206, 32.2%) and dual users (52,8.12%). Inflammatory mucosal lesions in the oral cavity were 70.97% and more among smokeless tobacco users comparable to 22.58% among tobacco smokers and was significantly associated with up to 20 years of tobacco consumption. Conclusions: Prevalence of Potentially malignant oral lesions among smokeless tobacco using interstate migrant construction site workers is very high and need urgent interventions.

Background: The presence of oral symptoms and signs in many systemic diseases is not uncommon knowledge. Investigations that explore the relationship between systemic diseases and their oral manifestations are of particular interest to dentists, as this enables them to be better clinicians with an acumen to recognize, treat, or refer patients with the systemic disease to general physicians. This study was undertaken to understand the oral manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with an emphasis on oral mucosal lesions, dental caries, and periodontitis. Methods: Asingle institutional cross-sectional survey was conducted from September 2017 to July 2018 on a sample of 500 SLE patients attending the Institute of Rheumatology, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Chennai. The dentition status, periodontal status, and oral mucosal lesions were assessed by a single trained and calibrated examiner using the World Health Organization (WHO) proforma, 2013. Besides, disease activity in SLE patients was assessed by rheumatologists using the SLEDAI index with a cutoff score of more than 4 indicating the presence of active disease. Demographic characteristics including age, gender, occupation, monthly income, and education status were assessed using a questionnaire. Data were entered into an Excel Sheet and all statistical analyses were performed using SPSS for Windows version 20.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results: In the present study, the prevalence of dental caries was found to be 87.6% in patients with SLE. The prevalence of severe periodontitis defined as the presence of at least one tooth with a 6 mm or deeper pocket was found to be 85% and the prevalence of oral mucosal lesions was found to be 86%. The prevalence percentage for dental caries, periodontal disease, and oral mucosal lesions were found to be higher than the rates reported for the general population in India. Patients with active SLE had a higher prevalence of dental caries, periodontitis, and oral mucosal lesions than patients with inactive SLE. Conclusion: It can be concluded from the present study that SLE patients are more vulnerable to oral diseases than the general population. Furthermore, disease activity in SLE patients has a strong positive correlation with oral health status in SLE patients.

Context: World'spopulation is ageing and increase in geriatric population demands improved oral health care. Previous epidemiologic studies in general population of India and particularly in Kerala (state with maximum proportion of elderly) provided very little information about oral mucosal lesions in elderly. Aims: To find out the prevalence, pattern and distribution of oral mucosal lesions in geriatric patients and to explore their association with different study variables. Settings and Design: A descriptive, hospital-based, cross sectional study was conducted for a period of 9 months in the out-patient clinic, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Government Dental College, Kozhikode (tertiary healthcare centre in Kerala, India). Methods and Materials: Participants aged 60 and above were selected by consecutive sampling. Data were collected through clinical examination and by using a structured proforma.Statistical Analysis Used: Descriptive statistics with tests of significance of associations were done. Results: The geriatric population (N=750, 66.89 ± 6.07, M: F=1.4:1), was recruited by screening 43,180, and 447 (67.29 ± 6.15, M: F=2:1) were identified having oral mucosal lesions withprevalence of 59.6% (95% CI=56.05–63.05). Most common lesion group was red and white (73.2%), followed by pigmented (15.5%). Oral mucosal lesions were significantly associated with age over 65, male gender, presence of habit and denture usage (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The prevalence of oral mucosal lesions in geriatric people is high. Hence setting up of geriatric dental clinics, with appropriate preventive and palliative intervention strategies is mandatory.

Purpose/background: Transgenders are a highly vulnerable subset within the high-risk group for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in India. Oral manifestations are among the early signs of HIV infection. This study was conducted with the aim to assess the oral mucosal lesions among the HIV-positive transgenders in Odisha taking antiretroviral therapy as well as those not taking antiretroviral therapy., Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among HIV-positive transgenders in four districts of Odisha. Snowball nonprobability sampling technique was adopted, and type IV clinical examination was performed using the modified WHO record form for oral manifestations in HIV/AIDS (2013). Independent sample t test was used to compare mean age among those taking ART with those not taking ART. Chi-square test was used to detect the associations among categorical variables., Results: The study comprised of 163 participants, 109 (71.24%) who were taking antiretroviral therapy, while 44 (28.76%) not taking antiretroviral therapy. The mean age was 32.56 + 7.69 years. Sex work was the most predominant occupation. Majority of the participants reported of having hyperpigmentation of different parts of oral mucosa. Aphthous ulcer and angular cheilitis was noticed in 14.72% and 9.20%, respectively. Other manifestations noticed included erythematous candidiasis, pseudomembranous candidiasis, oral hairy leukoplakia, necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis, herpetic stomatitis/gingivitis and/or labialis, herpes zoster, warty like lesions/human papillomavirus, other ulcerations (not otherwise specified/necrotizing ulcerative stomatitis), and dry mouth due to decreased salivary flow., Conclusion: Careful evaluation of oral manifestations can improve the quality of life of these marginalized, highly vulnerable population., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2022 Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care.)

Context: Vulnerable population groups such as migrant workers are identified as emerging high-risk groups for oral cancer owing to the high prevalence of smokeless tobacco consumption. Premature deaths due to oral cancer can be prevented by screening the population with high tobacco consumption practices and detecting early reversible stages of oral mucosal cavity lesions and facilitating linkages for further care., Aim: To assess prevalence of potentially malignant oral mucosal cavity lesions among tobacco consuming migrant construction workers in sub-urban Chennai, India., Settings and Designs: A workplace based cross-sectional study design., Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at workplaces i.e., construction sites for screening potentially malignant oral mucosal cavity lesions among migrant workers across 23 construction sites of Chennai during September 2019 - February 2020. An onsite, group health education session was provided about the harms of tobacco use to the migrants., Statistical Analysis Used: Data entered in MS Excel was analysed using SPSS and multivariate analysis was performed., Results: Among 640 migrants included in the study, 411 (64.2%) were less than 30 years of age, 623 (97.4%) were from north-eastern states of India such as West Bengal, Bihar, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand. A considerable size (272, 42.5%) could not read or write and 355 (55.4%) earn a monthly income of less than ten thousand rupees. Current tobacco users were 619 (96.7%), smokeless tobacco users (463, 72.34%), smokers (206, 32.2%) and dual users (52,8.12%). Inflammatory mucosal lesions in the oral cavity were 70.97% and more among smokeless tobacco users comparable to 22.58% among tobacco smokers and was significantly associated with up to 20 years of tobacco consumption., Conclusions: Prevalence of Potentially malignant oral lesions among smokeless tobacco using interstate migrant construction site workers is very high and need urgent interventions., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2020 Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care.)

Context: World'spopulation is ageing and increase in geriatric population demands improved oral health care. Previous epidemiologic studies in general population of India and particularly in Kerala (state with maximum proportion of elderly) provided very little information about oral mucosal lesions in elderly., Aims: To find out the prevalence, pattern and distribution of oral mucosal lesions in geriatric patients and to explore their association with different study variables., Settings and Design: A descriptive, hospital-based, cross sectional study was conducted for a period of 9 months in the out-patient clinic, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Government Dental College, Kozhikode (tertiary healthcare centre in Kerala, India)., Methods and Materials: Participants aged 60 and above were selected by consecutive sampling. Data were collected through clinical examination and by using a structured proforma., Statistical Analysis Used: Descriptive statistics with tests of significance of associations were done., Results: The geriatric population (N=750, 66.89 ± 6.07, M: F=1.4:1), was recruited by screening 43,180, and 447 (67.29 ± 6.15, M: F=2:1) were identified having oral mucosal lesions withprevalence of 59.6% (95% CI=56.05-63.05). Most common lesion group was red and white (73.2%), followed by pigmented (15.5%). Oral mucosal lesions were significantly associated with age over 65, male gender, presence of habit and denture usage ( P < 0.05)., Conclusions: The prevalence of oral mucosal lesions in geriatric people is high. Hence setting up of geriatric dental clinics, with appropriate preventive and palliative intervention strategies is mandatory., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2020 Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care.)

Background: The presence of oral symptoms and signs in many systemic diseases is not uncommon knowledge. Investigations that explore the relationship between systemic diseases and their oral manifestations are of particular interest to dentists, as this enables them to be better clinicians with an acumen to recognize, treat, or refer patients with the systemic disease to general physicians. This study was undertaken to understand the oral manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with an emphasis on oral mucosal lesions, dental caries, and periodontitis., Methods: A single institutional cross-sectional survey was conducted from September 2017 to July 2018 on a sample of 500 SLE patients attending the Institute of Rheumatology, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Chennai. The dentition status, periodontal status, and oral mucosal lesions were assessed by a single trained and calibrated examiner using the World Health Organization (WHO) proforma, 2013. Besides, disease activity in SLE patients was assessed by rheumatologists using the SLEDAI index with a cutoff score of more than 4 indicating the presence of active disease. Demographic characteristics including age, gender, occupation, monthly income, and education status were assessed using a questionnaire. Data were entered into an Excel Sheet and all statistical analyses were performed using SPSS for Windows version 20.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA)., Results: In the present study, the prevalence of dental caries was found to be 87.6% in patients with SLE. The prevalence of severe periodontitis defined as the presence of at least one tooth with a 6 mm or deeper pocket was found to be 85% and the prevalence of oral mucosal lesions was found to be 86%. The prevalence percentage for dental caries, periodontal disease, and oral mucosal lesions were found to be higher than the rates reported for the general population in India. Patients with active SLE had a higher prevalence of dental caries, periodontitis, and oral mucosal lesions than patients with inactive SLE., Conclusion: It can be concluded from the present study that SLE patients are more vulnerable to oral diseases than the general population. Furthermore, disease activity in SLE patients has a strong positive correlation with oral health status in SLE patients., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2020 Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care.)