Prevalence of Iron Deficiency Anemia in Children with Severe Early Childhood Caries
Deepa Gurunathan*1
, A. Swathi2 and M. Senthil Kumar31Department of Pedodontics, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical, Saveetha University, Chennai, 600077-India.
2Student, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical, Saveetha University, Chennai, 600077-India.
3Department of Pedodontics, RVS Dental College and Hospitals, Kannampalayam, Sulur, 641402-Coimbatore.
Corresponding Author Email: drgdeepa@yahoo.co.in
Abstract: Dental caries is an international public health challenge, especially amongst young children. Early childhood caries (ECC) is a serious public health problem in both developing and industrialised countries. ECC can begin early in life, progresses rapidly in those who are at high risk, and often goes untreated. Its consequences can affect the immediate and long-term quality of life of the child's family and can have significant social and economic consequences beyond the immediate family as well. ECC can be a particularly virulent form of caries, beginning soon after dental eruption, developing on smooth surfaces, progressing rapidly, and having a lasting detrimental impact on the dentition. Children experiencing caries as infants or toddlers have a much greater probability of subsequent caries in both the primary and permanent dentitions. Iron deficiency being the most common nutritional deficiency in childhood is often seen associated with severe caries destruction. Lack of iron is one of the most common dietary deficiency observed worldwide particularly in developing countries. In some instances this deficiency is alleviated by supplementary foods with added iron salts. In many countries where the iron deficiency is apparent, the prevalence of dental caries is high.
Keywords: Early Childhood Caries; Dietary Factors; Developing Country; Iron Deficiency Anemia; Lack of Iron; Virulent Form Back to TOC