Prevalence of oral submucous fibrosis and use of tobacco and related products amongst school going males

ABSTRACT

This cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of oral sub-mucous fibrosis among male school going children in a low socio-economic class and to analyze the relationship between oral submucous fibrosis and the use of various form of tobacco and areca nut. It was conducted on 54 male school going children aged between 10-19 years studying in classes VI to X of a public school in the catchment area of Hamdard University Dental Hospital Block-L North Nazimabad, Karachi. Results of the study showed that 50% of the study subjects used tobacco and its related products and amongst them 7.4% of Oral Submucous Fibrosis cases were identified. Tobacco and its related products have flooded the Pakistani market being cheap and convenient and have become popular in school age groups. They have been identified as a high risk for occurrence of the precancerous lesion [oral submucous fibrosis]. Screening system in all schools must be introduced to identify precancerous lesion at an early stage