Occurence of ulcerative oral lesions at Kenyatta national hospital,Nairobi Kenya

Abstract

This study was done as part of a WHO international survey of orofacial mutilations and NOMA cases referred to out-patient clinic and care centres in 1992. Files of 16,000 patients who were treated at the Dental Unit of Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) were scrutinized for the occurrence of NOMA and other ulcerative oral lesions. Of these, 30% had acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis with a male to female ratio of 5: 1. 25% had aphthous ulcers with a male to female ratio of 3:2. Equal numbers of patients (10%) bad angular cheilitis, ~spirin burn and oral candidiasis. Similarly, equal numbers of patients (5%) had NOMA, atypical ulceration and radiotherapy induced ulceration. It was concluded that NOMA and other ulcerative oral lesions were rare among the patients who were treated at the Dental Unit of KNH.