Oral health problems linked to lower quality of life in EB children: Study
Findings reinforce importance of multidisciplinary care, including dental support
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Parents reported that oral health problems lead to a poorer quality of life for their children with epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a study in Brazil shows.
Overall, children with EB had more oral lesions, such as blisters and ulcers, and higher levels of gingival inflammation (inflammation of the gums) and dental plaque than those without EB. Functional limitations were also evident in the EB group relative to the controls.
“These findings emphasize the clinical relevance of oral manifestations in EB and reinforce the importance of multidisciplinary care, including dental support, to improve the overall well-being of affected children,” researchers wrote.
The study, “Perception of Parents Regarding Oral Health-Related Quality of Life of Children With Epidermolysis Bullosa: A Cross-Sectional Study,” was published in the International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry.
Children with EB had more dental plaque, gum inflammation
EB is a group of disorders characterized by fragile skin prone to blistering and tearing. Although their frequency and severity vary, issues in other parts of the body are also well known, including blisters and ulcers affecting the mouth and the tongue. This leads to biting, swallowing, and speaking problems, impairing socialization and quality of life.
In this study, researchers in Brazil assessed oral problems in children with EB. Theirs was the first study to use clinical parameters to evaluate the impact on oral health, and the first to examine quality of life from the parents’ perspective. The study enrolled 42 children ages 2 to 10 years and their parents or guardians. Among the children, 14 had EB and 28 were age-matched controls without EB.
Eight patients had recessive dystrophic EB, four had EB simplex, and two had junctional EB. The majority of children with EB had oral lesions, predominantly blisters and ulcers on the tongue and lips.
Children with EB had significantly higher plaque index (1.1 vs. 0.38) and gingival index (0.74 vs. 0.35) than those without the disease. The plaque index quantifies the amount of dental plaque – a sticky film of bacteria that forms on the teeth – and the gingival index measures the severity of gum inflammation.
[These findings] contribute to the understanding of the oral implications on the quality of life of children with EB, providing valuable information to healthcare professionals involved in the care of these children and helping them understand that a fragmented view of these children’s needs does not allow them to live with the fullest possible quality of life.
Parents’ perceptions of the impact of oral health on their children’s quality of life were measured with the Brazilian version of the Parental-Caregiver Perceptions Questionnaire (P-CPQ), and their perceptions of impact on the family were assessed using the Family Impact Scale.
Parents of children with EB reported significantly higher overall P-CPQ scores than those of children without the disease, particularly in the domains of oral symptoms and functional limitations. In contrast, no significant differences were seen in the impact of oral disease on the family.
Overall, oral lesions were significantly associated with poorer oral health-related quality of life, particularly related to oral symptoms. Children with EB experienced a significantly greater impact than those without the disease.
According to the researchers, these findings “contribute to the understanding of the oral implications on the quality of life of children with EB, providing valuable information to healthcare professionals involved in the care of these children and helping them understand that a fragmented view of these children’s needs does not allow them to live with the fullest possible quality of life.”
