The Comparative Analysis of Buccal Exfoliated Cells in the Pediatric and Adolescent Age Groups Among the Dravidian Population During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction Adolescence is a distinct stage of development marked by a variety of physiological, behavioral, hormonal, and cellular changes. Objective The objective of this study is to assess the cytomorphometry of buccal exfoliated cells in the age groups 1-10 and 11-19 and detect any changes in their buccal exfoliated cells during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Materials and methods Buccal smears were collected from 60 patients of age groups 1-10 (n=30) and 11-19 (n=30). Cytomorphometric analysis was done using the ImageJ software (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD). Statistical analysis was done using an independent t-test. Results The cytomorphometric analysis of buccal smears between age groups 1-10 and 11-19 showed a statistically significant difference in cell size, cell shape, and nuclear-cytoplasmic (N/C) ratio. Conclusion This study helps to understand the physiological changes in this era and thus will aid to compare the physiological to the pathological changes of exfoliated cells in future studies.