Assessment of oral health status and developmental disturbances of oral structures among endosulfan victims of Kasaragod District, Kerala

• Main Authors: T Suresh, P S Ashwin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2019-01-01
• Series: Journal of Indian Association of Public Health Dentistry
• Subjects: Dental caries; development disorders; endosulfan; oral health; pesticides
• Online Access: http://www.jiaphd.org/article.asp?issn=2319-5932;year=2019;volume=17;issue=3;spage=198;epage=200;aulast=Suresh

Background: Endosulfan, an organochlorine pesticide, is a broad-spectrum contact insecticide widely used in pest control. Aerial spraying of this pesticide was being carried out in the cashew plantations in the Kasaragod district of Kerala, India, for several years. Various reports have been published on the serious adverse effects of this chemical on human health. Data on the oral health of endosulfan victims are scarce in the literature. Aim: This study aimed to assess the oral health status and developmental disturbances of oral structures among endosulfan victims of Kasaragod district, Kerala. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the endosulfan victims of 12–60 years of age using World Health Organization Oral Health Survey pro forma 2013 and a separate form to record the developmental disturbances of oral structures at BUDS Special School for Endosulfan Victims and Primary Health Center, Perla, Kasaragod. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Results: There were a total of 25 subjects in the age range of 12–60 years. The mean DMFT score of the subjects aged below 15 years (n = 12) was 3 ± 2.94 and for the subjects aged above 15 years was 4.23 ± 3.81. Bleeding on probing was present in all the participants. Micrognathia, microglossia, and fissured tongue were the main features observed in the study. Conclusion: The overall oral health status was found to be unsatisfactory due to the disabilities of the endosulfan victims. The current study has set a milestone and calls for the need of the assessment of endosulfan victims of other parts of the state.