No abstract

From January 1962 to December 1978, 381 consecutive cases of oral cancer in Fars Province were analyzed and studied. The incidence of oral cancer was found to be 1.13/100 000. The male/female ratio was 5:1, the median age of oral cancer was 55 years. 97% of the oral cancer was squamous cell carcinoma. The most commonly affected oral site was the lower lip, next was the tongue. Tobacco smoking and opium addiction were more common among the affected compared with the control group. Dental sepsis and poor oral hygiene were common in both groups. Malnutrition, anemia and liver dysfunction were common in the examined sample and are thought to be possible causative factors especially in those with no smoking habits. The role of general dental practitioners was limited, they suspected and referred only 13 advanced cases.

Twenty thousand Arabs of various nationalities living in Kuwait have been investigated over the past 5 years; 5,470 (27%) manifested recurrent aphthous ulcerations (RAU). Non-Kuwaiti Arabs were affected more the Kuwaitis and the prevalence of the disease was respectively 35% and 18%. Among Kuwaitis, only 5% of the Bedouins manifested the diseases whereas 22% of urbanized Arabs were affected. The ratio of the affected females to males in this study was 6:5. The clinical course of RAU in Arabs was similar to that reported in other populations. Various environmental factors such as stressful conditions, social tradition and obligations, and the allergenic Arabic food seemed to affect the prevalence of RAU in different Arab communities.

Twenty thousand Arabs of various nationalities living in Kuwait have been investigated over the past 5 years; 5,470 (27 %) manifested recurrent aphthous ulcerations (RAU). Non‐Kuwaiti Arabs were affected more than Kuwaitis and the prevalence of the disease was respectively 35% and 18 %. Among Kuwaitis, only 5 % of the Bedouins manifested the disease whereas 22 % of urbanized Arabs were affected. The ratio of the affected females to males in this study was 6:5. The clinical course of RAU in Arabs was similar to that reported in other populations. Various environmental factors such as stressful conditions, social tradition and obligations, and the allergenic Arabic food seemed to affect the prevalence of RAU in different Arab communities.

A total of 222 mercury-exposed workers in the Chlor-Alkali plant in Kuwait were investigated for oral and dental affections. The levels of mercury-vapor ranged from 566.6 microgram/m3 to 0.3 microgram/m3 in different parts of the factory. The periods of exposure varied from 1 to 11 years. Although the level of mercury vapor in the air and the period of exposure proved to be the main factors as regards the oral signs and symptoms, the oral hygiene condition and the individual sensitivity played substantial roles. Oral affections were found not to be due to allergy to mercury.