Page 39 - MDA SCATE 2023 Programme Book

ORAL PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS

FACIAL CELLULITIS OF ODONTOGENIC ORIGIN IN MALAYSIAN CHILDREN - A
Abstract 4
MULTICENTRE STUDY
Yushaini Ahmad , Sarimah Mohd Mokhtar , Bavani Sinnumu Naidu 3
2
1
1. Pediatric Dental Clinic, Hospital Selayang, Selangor
2. Pediatric Dental Clinic, Hospital Tuanku Jaafar, Negeri Sembilan
3. Pediatric Dental Clinic, Hospital Kajang, Selangor

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical presentation of facial cellulitis of
odontogenic origin (FCOO) in paediatric dental patients, and to investigate the factors that were associated
with length of hospitalization (LOH) and treatment under general anesthesia (GA).
Methodology: It was a multicentre, prospective, cross-sectional study involving a convenient sample of 170
paediatric patients diagnosed with FCOO between 2015 to 2018. Data was collected from paediatric dental
specialist clinics at four Malaysian government hospitals. Patients’ demographic data, such as age, gender
and ethnicity were collected. Clinical data of interest were source of infection, aetiology, caries experience
(dmft and DMFT index), location of facial cellulitis, spread of infection (measured by the number of facial
space involved), mode of definitive treatment and days of hospitalization.
Results: Fifty percent of the patients with FCOO were children under the age of five (median (IQR)=5(3)),
with mean dmft of 10.03 (SD=5.01). 17.6% (30 children) were hospitalized, with a mean of hospital stay of 2
days (SD=4). Meanwhile, 64 or 37.6% of children (median age(IQR)=5(2)) with dmft of 11.95 (SD=4.76)were
treated for comprehensive dental treatment under GA. There was a significant association between age,
dmft, spread of infection and the decision to perform GA (p-value of = 0.019, <0.001 and = 0.029 respectively).
In addition, a statistically significant relationship was observed between LOH and the spread of infection(p
= 0.002).
Conclusion: Very young children with high dmft have higher risk for FCOO and there is higher need for
dental treatment under GA. The LOH increased with increasing age and severity of infection. FCOO does
have an impact on society in relation to increase utilization of healthcare services.

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