A study of the effect of age and season on the incidence of ulcerative gingivitis

Abstract

A total of 1,179 patients, comprising 737 males and 442 females, with acute ulcerative gingivitis presented at the Stomatological Clinic in Prague during the decade 1958–1967. The relationship between age and season and the incidence of acute ulcerative gingivitis was studied in these subjects. The highest incidence was in females between 16 and 17 years of age and in males 17 to 22 years of age. The incidence in all subjects 15 to 19 years of age was equivalent to 8.3 persons per10,000 inhabitants. The corresponding figures for the age ranges 20–24 and 25–29 were 4.8 and 2.1 respectively. There were three seasonal peaks in incidence. The highest occurred in September and October, the next highest in December and January and the third was in June. The disease was often associated with the common cold.

Acute periodontal lesions (periodontal abscesses and necrotizing periodontal diseases) and endo‐periodontal lesions

“…Young people (15‐34 years old) in the developed world are at a higher risk of suffering from NPD, frequently in combination with other predisposing factors . Children are at a higher risk in developing countries, and this is normally associated with malnutrition and other infections .…”

“…Young people (15-34 years old) in the developed world are at a higher risk of suffering from NPD, frequently in combination with other predisposing factors. 58,64,67,68 Children are at a higher risk in developing countries, and this is normally associated with malnutrition and other infections. 52,53,56,69 Some studies suggested that Caucasians suffered from NPD more frequently 58,64,70 than other ethnic groups, however, this finding needs to be confirmed (see Appendix 4, Tables A4.5, in online journal).…”

Effectiveness of various interventions on maintenance of gingival health during 1 year – a randomized clinical trial

“…However, Škach et al . failed to show evidence of any correlation between a particular type of weather condition and ulcerative gingivitis, even though 40% of the participants stated that they had recently suffered from a common cold or tonsillitis. Additionally, in the present study, the cold temperatures and reduced resistance in November may have an effect on the development of gingivitis.…”

“…In 1960, Wood (58) suggested that there was a marked reduction of blood flow to the skin induced by a cool environment, and a hypothesis has been advanced (58-60) that low temperatures induce gingival vascular peripheral constriction. However, Skach et al (61) failed to show evidence of any correlation between a particular type of weather condition and ulcerative gingivitis, even though 40% of the participants stated that they had recently suffered from a common cold or tonsillitis. Additionally, in the present study, the cold temperatures and reduced resistance in November may have an effect on the development of gingivitis.…”

A perspective on periodontal diagnosis

“…Periods of disequilibriutn in the host-parasite balance could also be caused by alterations in the host who may be unable to keep micro-organisrns at bay, for example, as a result of itnrnunosuppression therapy. In all likelihood, transient aiterations in the host tnay occur periodically as a result of rnore subtle factors, such as altered ernotional states and other factors which have not been well deftned and which cannot be accurately measured at this titne (Maupin & Bell 1975, Skach et al, 1970, Davis & Jenkins 1961, Theoretically, a period of active disease can be represented diagratntnatically as in Fig, 3, narnely in the shape of a bell-shaped curve. Following an upset in the host-parasite balance, the intensity of the disease increases to reach a peak which corresponds to the reestablishment of control functions that return the host-parasite balance to its stable, health-compatible status.…”