A comprehensive approach to oral health from the epidemiology of acute herpetic gingivostomatitis in pediatric patients

Abstract

Introduction: Acute herpetic gingivostomatitis (AHGE) is the most common clinical manifestation of primary herpes simplex virus type 1, infection. It is a childhood disease, more frequent in infants and children under 6 years of age. Methods: an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out in pediatric patients between the ages of 0 and 18 who attended with signs and symptoms of acute herpetic gingivostomatitis in the period from January 2022 to January 2023 at the dental clinic “AntonioBriones Montoto”, Pinar del Río, Cuba. The universe consisted of 156 children and the sample, obtained by simple random sampling, by 65 children according to the established inclusion and exclusion criteria. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used. The results were presented in tables and graphs to facilitate analysis and discussion. Results: there was a prevalence of acute herpetic gingivostomatitis in the ages of 2 and 6 years for 52,3 %. The most frequently detected signs and symptoms were pain in 100 %, difficulty in eating food in 87,7 %. The main risk factors were: catarrhal states with 40,0 % and febrile states 27,7 %. The level of knowledge about oral health was classified as regular with 44,6 %. Conclusions: ignorance of the causes, treatment and evolution of GEHA is the consequence of poor health education, hence the need to establish educational programs with a view to reducing the incidence and prevalence of oral diseases.