Levels of Cariogenic Microorganisms and Oral Conditions of Asthmatic Children

Objectives: Asthma is a chronic disease, which needs continuous treatment that can affect the oral conditions of patients. This study evaluated the levels of mutans streptococci (MS) and Lactobacillus sp. in the saliva of asthmatic children, who use specific medication, from 3 to 15 years old, in Londrina, Brazil. Methods: 160 patients were enrolled in this study, being 80 from asthma group and 80 from control group. The parents were interviewed about medical and dental history of their children. It was performed the DMFT index and dental plaque index (dental biofilm) by a calibrated examiner (kappa = 0.98). The saliva was collected by wooden spatula and printed onto the selective medium mitis-salivarius agar with saccharose and bacitracin, for growth of the MS. Another sample were diluted and spread in Rogosa agar for growth of Lactobacillus sp. The plates were incubated in anaerobiose jars at 37ºC for 48 hours for counting the colony forming units. Results: No differences were observed in caries prevalence between asthma and control group in 3-6 and in 7-10 years old children. However, in 11-15 years old children, higher caries prevalence was observed in asthma control group. There was an increase on salivary levels of MS in asthma group, however, no differences were observed for Lactobacillus sp. (Mann Whitney's test). Differences of dental biofilm between asthma and control group were also observed. There was no statistical correlation between medication type, onset or frequency of treatment with caries experience, dental biofilm and cariogenic microorganisms. There was only correlation between MS levels and asthma treatment duration. Conclusions: The higher amount of dental biofilm and caries prevalence in 11-15 years old patients, as well as the higher salivary levels of MS in asthmatic children, suggest that these children need more dental preventive attention.