Conditions associated with severe orofacial infections: The kath experience

Abstract

Background: Severity of orofacial infections is dependent on a balance between host immunity and causative microbe related factors. Severe orofacial infections (SOI), if not controlled, could lead to serious complications.
Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the conditions associated with severe orofacial infections seen at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).
Materials and Methods: This was a 2-year retrospective study of all cases of orofacial infections admitted to the oral and maxillofacial surgery ward of KATH from January 2017 to December 2018. A specially designed form was used to collect relevant information from patients’ records. Data was entered into Excel and later transported to SPSS for analysis. Ethical approval was obtained.
Results: A total of one hundred and twenty (120) patients were seen during the period comprising 75 males and 45 females, giving a male to female ratio of 1.6:1. Eighty-one (67.5%) of the patients had low haemoglobin levels at the time of admission and 11.7% were known hypertensives on medication while 10.3% were newly diagnosed cases of hypertension. 17.0% were known diabetes mellitus (DM) patients and were on oral hypoglycemic agents but only 56.8% of them took their medication regularly. An additional 23.7% were newly diagnosed with DM. Sixty-four (64) has liver impairment, 79 had renal impairment.
Conclusion: Anemia was the major condition associated with the SOI. This meant that in the management of SOI, correction of anaemia should be prioritized. DM, uncontrolled hypertension, renal and liver diseases were also seen to be associated with SOI