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Key Clinical Message Oral mucosal leishmaniasis is a rare finding posing challenges in the diagnosis and treatment in a nonendemic setting. This disease is present in dental clinics as nonhealing chronic growth. Timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment are crucial to prevent further complications and death.

INTRODUCTION: Corona virus disease was first reported in Wuhan city of China in 2019. The disease is caused by a highly infectious virus which can be transmitted from human to human through physical contact, droplets, or touching surfaces contaminated with the virus. AIM: The study aims to get an assessment of knowledge, attitude and practices towards COVID-19 disease among the dental practitioners in Bhutan.MATERIAL AND METHODS: An online cross- sectional study was conducted among dental practitioners working in different hospitals across the country. All dental professionals who provided their email address were included in the study. Data were collecting using a structured questionnaire shared though email. A total of 157 dental professionals were invited through e-mail to participate in the study. RESULTS: A total of 125 dental professionals participated in the study (response rate 79.6%). Over half of the participants (51.2%) were between the age group 20-30 years. Despite almost everyone (98.4%) knowing the causative agent and management of COVID-19 positive patients, only around a half of the participants (48%) had a good level of knowledge on COVID-19.CONCLUSION: The study found that less than half of the participants have a good level of knowledge on COVID-19 while a majority of them feel that there is discrimination against COVID-19 positive patients and health professionals working for COVID-19 patients. The study highlights the need to conduct sensitization, trainings or CME on COVID-19 periodically to keep all health professionals updated with latest advancements to help maintain safety in clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSMF) is a chronic, insidious, scarring disease of the mouth often involving the palate, oro-pharynx, pharynx, esophagus, tongue and the buccal mucosa which leads to ulceration, blanching and ultimately limited mouth opening. The aim of the study is to describe the age, gender and district-wise distribution of oral submucous fibrosis cases and to assess the malignant transformation rate among the patients with oral submucous fibrosis who were treated at Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital, Thimphu, Bhutan.MATERIALS AND METHOD: This is a descriptive retrospective study. The patients were clinically diagnosed by examining their mouth and by measuring their mouth opening (Inter-incisal height). Patients who had less than 3 fingers mouth opening and diagnosed as Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) during these three-year period from 2018 to 2020 were considered for the study.RESULTS: There were 278 cases in total. Thimphu district had the maximum number of cases followed by Wangduephodrang and Samtse. Gasa and Haa districts had the minimum cases. More males were affected than females. The malignant transformation rate among these patients was 4.3%.CONCLUSION: Thimphu district had the highest proportion of OSMF cases and was almost equally distributed among genders. Over 90% of the patients reported improvement without surgery while the malignancy transformation rate was 4.3%. The study recommends conducting screening in districts with high burden of OSMF cases for early diagnosis and treatment.

Several studies have established region-based prevalence rate of H. pylori infection and its association with clinical outcomes in Bhutan. However, this study attempts to determine hospital-based prevalence rate of H. pylori and its association with clinical outcomes. A total of 347 volunteers (159 females and 188 males; mean age of 49.8 ± 15.5 years) were enrolled from Central Regional Referral Hospital (CRRH) in Gelephu. Upper gastro-intestinal endoscopy (UGIE) was performed among the dyspeptics and H. pylori infection was determined by Histology examination. The histological prevalence of H. pylori among 347 patients who went upper gastro-intestinal endoscopy was 55.6%. The prevalence of H. pylori infection increased with age but it was statistically insignificant (P > 0.05). Gastritis was the most common endoscopic finding, present in 309 (89%) patients followed by normal upper endoscopy results in 24 (6.9%) patients. The prevalence of H. pylori among patients with gastritis and a duodenal ulcer was significantly higher than in patients with gastric cancer (P < 0.05). The high incidence of gastritis in the hospital may be attributed to the high prevalence of H. pylori infection among the individuals with dyspepsia.