Management of odontogenic infection in paediatric patients: a retrospective clinical study

PURPOSE: To investigate the outpatient and inpatient management of odontogenic infections among paediatric patients attending a university hospital.

METHODS: A retrospective study (2013-2015) was carried out which involved retrieving relevant data from past records (manual/electronic) of paediatric patients (under 18-years-old) who presented with odontogenic infections to the Paediatric Dentistry and Oral and Maxillofacial clinic. Data collected was organised using descriptive statistics with SPSS version 12.0.1.

RESULTS: A total of 153 patients were identified, of which 83.7% were managed as outpatients. Odontogenic infections were more common in females (52.9%) and preschool children (58.2%). The most cases were seen in 2014 and maximum number of cases per month was 12. Common presentations were pain (62.1%), intraoral swelling (37.9%) and spontaneous pus discharge from the tooth and/or surrounding tissues (67.3%) with higher involvement of primary right molars. Dental panoramic tomograph was the most common radiographic investigation done. Outpatients were commonly managed chairside with pulpal opening (46.1%) at the paediatric dental clinic and 7% underwent extraction under general anaesthesia in day-care setting. Inpatients were admitted for 3 days on average and most commonly definitive care was extraction under local/general anaesthesia (68%). There were 22.7% outpatients and 72.0% inpatients who were prescribed antibiotics.

CONCLUSIONS: Overall, treatment and medications prescribed adhered to current guidelines. There was a tendency to solely prescribe antibiotics in 8.6% of outpatients which is contrary to recommendations.