DYNAMIC CHANGES IN PARAMETERS OF ORAL FLUID VISCOSITY AND pH IN CHILDREN WITH RECURRENT ACUTE RESPIRATORY VIRAL INFECTIONS IN THE COURSE OF PREVENTIVE TREATMETN

Abstract

A large number of common etiological factors, among which there are frequent recurrent acute respiratory viral infections, are known to contribute to the development of dental caries. The aim of this study is to investigate the dynamics of the parameters of oral fluid viscosity and pH in children with recurrent acute respiratory viral infections in the course of preventive treatment. The study included 80 children divided into 4 groups of 20 people in each. The viscosity of the oral fluid was assessed by the method of T. L. Redinova. The oral fluid pH was evaluated using the universal indicator paper. The findings obtained were statistically processed by the Student's t-distribution, the results were considered reliable at p ≤ 0.05. The incidence rate of acute respiratory viral infections was determined by studying medical records and by questioning the parents. The effectiveness of therapeutic and preventive measures was assessed in 1 and 6 months after the first visit to dentist’s office. The parameters of oral fluid viscosity were within the normal range in all groups under the study. The children of groups 3 and 4, who were found to more often suffer from acute respiratory viral infections demonstrated that in 6 months following the completion of the preventive treatment we elaborated this value remained lower than during the first examination. The study of the oral fluid pH in the children of the examined groups showed its positive changes in all cases. During the second examination, an increase in the parameters ​​was observed in all the test groups, but these changes were significant in the 4 group of children (6.90 ± 0.05 units), who kept the complex of preventive measured we designed. During the 3rd check-up in 6 months, the result remained stable in the children of the 3rd and 4th test groups (6.79 ± 0.05 units and 6.87 ± 0.06 units, respectively). We can suggest that significant improvement in the values of oral fluid viscosity and pH in all the test groups is due to regular oral care and good oral hygiene, use of therapeutic and prophylactic means as well as additional hygiene products.