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Knowledge, attitudes and status of oral health in children at risk for infective endocarditis

D B da Silva1, I P R Souza, M C S A Cunha

  • 1Paediatric Dentistry Department, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. dany.bezerra@uol.com.br

International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry
|April 23, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Children at risk for infective endocarditis (IE) and their guardians show poor oral health and limited understanding of IE risks. Improving oral hygiene and IE knowledge is crucial for this vulnerable pediatric population.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Oral Health
  • Infective Endocarditis

Background:

  • Children at risk for infective endocarditis (IE) require careful management.
  • Oral health is a critical factor in preventing IE.
  • Guardians' understanding of IE risks and oral health is essential for patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the oral health status of children at risk for IE.
  • To assess guardians' knowledge and attitudes regarding IE and oral health.
  • To identify areas for intervention in a pediatric cardiology setting.

Main Methods:

  • Oral examinations were conducted on 104 children (ages 2-17).
  • Guardians completed structured interviews about IE risks and oral health.
  • Plaque Index (PI), Gingival Index (GI), and dmft/DMFT indices were used.

Main Results:

  • 98% of children had visible plaque and 99% had gingival bleeding.
  • Caries experience (dmft/DMFT) was 2.62/3.97.
  • Only 41.3% of guardians understood the importance of oral health for preventing IE, and 28.8% of children had never visited a dentist.

Conclusions:

  • Guardians demonstrate inadequate knowledge and attitudes towards oral health and IE prevention.
  • Children at risk for IE exhibit poor oral health, increasing bacteremia risk.
  • Interventions are needed to improve oral hygiene practices and IE awareness in this population.
Abstract

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