Middle ear infection in children and its association with dental caries.

INTRODUCTION: Middle ear infection affects mostly infants and children, associated with elevated level of S. mutans, which increases the chances of developing caries. AIM: To evaluate the difference in level of Streptococcus mutans between normal children & children affected by middle ear infection. METHOD: This descriptive study was carried out on 120 children aged 5 years and younger. They were selected randomly from schools and medical hospitals. S. mutans was counted from saliva sample and a questionnaire was given to be filled by their parents about the feeding method, pattern and specific childhood illness. RESULT: Out of 120 children examined, 62 were boys and 58 were girls. Mean CFU in middle ear infection group was 5.60+9.53, whereas in children with no middle ear infection it was 1.70+3.34. Unpaired 't' test revealed statistically significant difference among the two groups (p value = 0.001). CONCLUSION: S. mutans count was comparatively higher in children having middle ear infection rather than non-infected children, which may cause dental caries in the future.

Antimicrobial efficacy of three medicinal plants Glycyrrhiza glabra, Ficus religiosa, and Plantago major on inhibiting primary plaque colonizers and periodontal pathogens: An in vitro study.

INTRODUCTION: From ancient times, plants with medicinal values are being tested and used in treatment of various infectious disease. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The presentin vitro study was designed to assess the antimicrobial activity of three commonly available medicinal plants Glycyrrhiza glabra, Ficus religiosa, and Plantago major on inhibiting Primary plaque colonizers and periodontal pathogens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Bark of G. glabra, Stem of F. religiosa, and husk of P. major were collected, crushed into fine powder, and dissolved in 67% ethanol. Extracts were then subjected to test antimicrobial efficacy against primary plaque colonizers and periodontal pathogens using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Mean zone of inhibition (ZOI) was measured by HI antibiotic zone scale. One-way ANOVA using Tukey's post hoc and t-test were applied for statistical analysis. RESULTS: G. glabra was found to have potential antibacterial activity against primary plaque colonizers and periodontal pathogens with highest mean ZOI measuring 9.2 ± 1.09 mm and 10.6 ± 0.54 mm at 24 h, respectively. F. religiosa showed antibacterial activity against primary plaque colonizers only at 48 h with mean ZOI of 2.6 ± 0.54 mm. P. major showed no antibacterial activity against any of the microorganism in this study. Tukey's post hoc test showed statistically nonsignificant difference between G. glabra and standard antibiotic (vancomycin 10 mcg) for periodontal pathogens. CONCLUSION: G. glabra and F. religiosa showed antibacterial activity against primary plaque colonizers and periodontal pathogens. However, further studies should be undertaken to affirm the same and test their efficacy in different concentration and clinical utility.

Antibiogram pattern of oral microflora in periodontic children of age group 6 to 12 years: a clinicomicrobiological study.

AIM: The study was carried out to see the diversity of oral microflora and its antibiotic sensitivity test in children of age group 6 to 12 years was carried. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total 50 patients of age group 6 to 12 years were analyzed for their oral microflora and then checked for the antibiotic susceptibility test. The samples that were collected were incubated at 37°C for 48 hours. Once dispersed samples were taken and Gram staining was done, also they were spread on to a number of freshly prepared agar plates and incubated to allow cells to form microbial colony. RESULTS: The result showed microflora common in all types, Gram-positive facultative anaerobic rods and cocci. In normal children Gram-positive facultative anaerobic and fermenting cocci were predominant where as in children with caries growth of microbiota that were Gram-negative and positive, capnophilic, motile and anaerobic rods and cocci belonging to members of genera S. mutans and A. actinomycetemcomitans was seen. CONCLUSION: By the present study it has been concluded that the number of bacteria determined by microscopic counts was twice as high in caries patients as in healthy sites, and also recommended that amoxicillin, ampicillin and amikacin are the most effective antibacterial drugs for the treatment of dental caries.

Comparison of the serum immunoglobulin IgM level in diabetic and nondiabetic patients with chronic periodontitis.

AIM: To evaluate and compare the serum IgM level in diabetic and nondiabetic patients with chronic periodontitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 patients were selected for the study and divided into four groups, diabetic with periodontitis, diabetic without periodontitis, nondiabetic with periodontitis and nondiabetic without periodontitis (control) were analyzed for the quantitative estimation of serum immunoglobulins M by turbidimetric immunoassay. The serum of the diabetic and nondiabetic patients was evaluated and turbidimetric method was used for immunological assay by using Quantia IgM turbidimetric immunoassay for estimation of immunoglobulin IgM in human serum. The data for the level of immunoglobulin thus obtained were compared with clinically healthy patient taken as control. Sugar level was estimated the by checking the random blood sugar level by glucose test kit based on end point and kinetic assay and compared with the HbA1c percentage of the patients, by using NycoCard Reader. RESULT: The group A patients having diabetes with periodontitis showed nonsignifcant increase in serum IgM level as compared to controls and other groups. Group B showed signifcance of p = 0.074. Group C showed signifcance of p = 0.982 and group D showed signifcance of p = 0.520. There was signifcant increase in HbA1c with an increase percentage serum IgM. CONCLUSION: In the present study, significantly high concentrations of the IgM in serum of diabetic and nondiabetic patients were found as compared to the healthy subjects who had neither diabetes nor periodontitis. CLINICAL SIGNIFCANCE: By this study, we can emphasize on the fact of the importance of the immune system and its correlation with glycemic control, especially in patients diagnosed with periodontitis, also suggests that the alteration in immune response in poorly controlled diabetic patients may contribute to the pathogenesis of periodontitis and is the cause of increased incidence of periodontitis in patients with diabetes.

Evaluating the antimicrobial activity of commercially available herbal toothpastes on microorganisms associated with diabetes mellitus.

AIM: The present study was conducted to evaluate the effcacy of commercially available herbal toothpastes against the different periodontopathogens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six herbal toothpastes that were commonly commercially available were included in the study. Colgate herbal, Babool, Meswak, Neem active, Dabur red toothpastes were tested for the study whereas sterile normal saline was used as control. Antimicrobial effcacies of dentifrices were evaluated against Streptococcus mutans and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans. The antimicrobial properties of dentifrices were tested by measuring the maximum zone of inhibition at 24 hours on the Mueller Hinton Agar media inoculated with microbial strain using disk diffusion method. Each dentifrice was tested at 100% concentration (full strength). RESULTS: The study showed that all dentifrices selected for the study were effective against the entire test organism but to varying degree. Neem active tooth paste gave a reading of 25.4 mm as the zone of inhibition which was highest amongst all of the test dentifrices. Colgate Herbal and Meswak dentifrices recorded a larger maximum zone of inhibition, measuring 23 and 22.6 mm respectively, compared to other toothpastes. All other dentifrices showed the zone of inhibition to be between 17 and 19 mm respectively. CONCLUSION: The antibacterial properties of six dentifrices were studied in vitro and concluded that almost all of the dentifrices available commercially had antibacterial properties to some extent to beneft dental health or antiplaque action.