Prevalence of self-reported halitosis and associated factors among dental patients attending a tertiary hospital in Nigeria

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of self-reported halitosis among dental patients seen in a teaching hospital. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that included 135 dental patients enrolled at the Oral Diagnosis/Periodontology Clinics of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. Self-administered questionnaires were used to assess self-reported halitosis (oral malodor) in the subjects. Association between self-reported halitosis and sociodemography (age, gender, education, marital status, ethnicity, and religion) and intraoral findings (gingivitis, periodontitis, tongue coating, caries, and number of mobile teeth) was determined. Results: The prevalence of self-reported halitosis was 14.8% and was significantly associated with age of 40 years and above (P = 0.025), and male gender (P = 0.032). Subjects with gingivitis were 2 times more likely to have halitosis than those without gingivitis (odds ratio [OR] = 2.19 while subjects with tongue coating were 2 times more likely to have halitosis than those without tongue coating OR = 2.02. About 50% perceived halitosis by themselves, 25% by family and friends, and 20% from presumed actions of people around them. The majority (70%) of the patients perceived the halitosis from their mouths, 30% from their mouth and nose. Most (75%) of the subjects had perceived the halitosis for more than 4 weeks while only 3% had sought professional treatment. Conclusion: Older age of 40 years and above and male gender were the factors associated with self-reported halitosis in this study. The health-seeking behavior of the patients for the treatment of the halitosis was poor

Paediatric jaw tumours: experiences and findings from a resource limited tertiary health care center

Introduction: primary maxillofacial tumors are uncommon in pediatric patients. When they do occur, the tissue damage caused directly alters facial growth, development as well as psycho-social evolution. This study was carried out to determine the pattern, sociodemographic characteristics and histologic peculiarities of paediatric jaw tumors in our environment. Methods: a retrospective hospital-based study where the case notes of children below the age of 14 years who presented with jaw tumors and tumor-like lesions from January 2014 to December 2018 were studied. Results: eighty-two patients were studied; patients aged 10-14 years had the highest representation. Mean time of presentation was 8 months with jaw swelling being the commonest presentation (84.1%). Majority of the fathers were in their 4th decade of life while most of the mothers were in their third decade of life and both parents possessed primary school certificate as their highest level of educational attainment. Fathers were mostly traders, while mothers were mostly full-time housewives. The maxilla and mandible were most commonly affected with the left side showing higher preponderance. Burkitt lymphoma (19 (23.2%)) and adenomatoid odontogenic tumor (14 (17.1%)) were the commonest lesions. When the tumor involved both the maxilla and the mandible, the tumor was most likely malignant. Conclusion: in our center, paediatric jaw tumors are commonest in male children with the 10-14 years´ age group most commonly affected. Burkitt lymphoma and adenomatoid odontogenic tumors were the commonest tumors. Early presentation must be encouraged since these tumors if presented early can be successfully treated