ABSTRACT
A total of 200 rheumatic heart diseased patients on long acting penicillin or alternative antibiotic was investigated for oral health condition [dental caries [DMF index], periodontal disease [periodontal index], oral hygiene [OH index] as well as various affections of oral mucosa]. Fifty control patients were examined for the same conditions. Both samples were randomly chosen. OHI as well as DMF index and periodontal index did not differ significantly in rheumatic heart diseased patients on LAP from the control group, but candidiasis was more prevalent in the mouths of patients on LAP. The negligence of oral hygiene as shown by OHI was the same in both groups and it seems that it plays a much more important role than LAP in DMF index and periodontal index in rheumatic patients. LAP does not protect the rheumatic patient against SBE and adequate preventive antibiotic regimen is mandatory. Fifteen rheumatic heart diseased patients in the examined series had relatives affected with the same disease probably due to living under the same environmental conditions. Only few patients were treated at the time of investigation with corticosteroids for short periods to attribute oral candidiasis, dental caries or periodontal disease to them in this survey study