Asthma and oral changes in children: Associated factors in a community of southern Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a chronic disease that involves several healthcare services that need attention in relation to its treatment and prevention. AIM: The objective of this study was to evaluate caries, erosion, and enamel defects in children with and without asthma. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study, with a sample of 228 children ages 6-12 years, stratified as asthmatic (n = 112) and non-asthmatic (n = 116), at two Primary Health Units of the Community Health Service, Brazil. The evaluation consisted of an oral examination and a structured interview with parents/guardians, in addition to data from medical records. Data were analysed by Poisson regression with a robust error variance, all of them at a level of significance of P < 0.05. RESULTS: Of 112 asthmatic children, 63 (51.2%) had dental caries and 25 (53.2%) enamel defects. In the adjusted analysis, dental caries and use of salbutamol were associated (PR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.01-1.72). In addition, children who performed oral hygiene more than three times a day showed a greater prevalence (PR = 2.36, 95% CI = 1.02-4.85) of dental erosion compared with children who performed it only once a day. CONCLUSIONS: There is no evidence for an association between asthma, caries, erosion, and enamel defect in children aged from 6 to 12 years. There was, however, an association between dental caries and use of salbutamol.

Relationship between Asthma, Malocclusion and Mouth Breathing in Primary Health Care Children

Objective: To assess the relationship between asthma, malocclusion and mouth breathing. Material and Methods: This investigation was a cross-sectional study of 228 children between 6 and 12 years of age, of whom 112 were asthmatic and 116 were not, performed in two Primary Health Units of Porto Alegre, Brazil. The assessment consisted of a mouth exam performed by two calibrated dentists, an interview with parents/caregivers and medical chart data. Mouth breathing was determined through oral-facial changes related to Mouth Breathing Syndrome. Occlusion was assessed according to Angle's Classification for permanent or mixed teeth and regarding primary teeth were based on the canine relationships. The data were assessed by the Chi-square test and Poisson regression, with robust variation, at a p<0.05 significant level. Results: Asthma [PR = 2.12 (95% CI: 1.46-3.08), p<0.001] and the use of pacifiers [PR = 1.98 (95% CI: 1.27-3.07), p<0.001] were associated with mouth breathing, in the final multivariate model. Age [PR = 1.02 (95% CI: 1.00-1.03), p=0.039] and thumb sucking [PR = 1.08 (95% CI: 1.03-1.13), p=0.001] were associated with malocclusion in the final multivariate model, while there was no relationship between asthma and malocclusion (PR = 1.00; 95% CI: 0.94-1.07). Conclusion: This study provides evidence of the relationship between asthma and mouth breathing in children, demonstrating that knowledge regarding the oral health of populations with chronic diseases is fundamental for developing health programmes suitable to their needs and risks.