Oral Warts among Children Attending a Missionary Dental Clinic in Cameroon

Abstract

To determine the prevalence of oral warts among children attending missionary dental clinic in Cameroon. This prospective study of children presenting in the Dental Clinic of Cameroon Baptist Convention with oral warts was conducted between January 2006 and August 2010. During the study period, 31 children out of 2912 children had oral warts giving a prevalence rate of 1.1%. Out of which, 15 (48.4%) of children with oral warts were aged between 7-10 years old, 20 (64.5%) were females, 3 (9.7%) were HIV positive. Lips were the most predominant oral site among the children. The recurrence rate following treatment with electrocautery was 1 (3.2%). The overall prevalence of oral warts among Cameroonian children in a dental clinic setting was low. It was commoner in children aged 7-10 years, females and HIV negative children. Lips were the most predominant oral site in children and recurrence rate following treatment with electrocautery was low.

Key words: Oral warts, children, HIV, electrocautery, outcome.