Is malaria a predisposing factor for third molar pericoronitis in the tropics?

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Is malaria a predisposing factor for third molar pericoronitis in the tropics?
Journal of Infection
Volume 53, Issue 1, July 2006, Pages 56-59

Foluso J. Owotade, a, Kehinde E. Adebiyi, a, Oladipo A. Aboderin, b, Olawunmi A. Fatusi, a, Eyitope O. Ogunbodede, c and Okechukwu Akueme, b
a- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Oral Pathology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife 220005, Nigeria
b- Department of Medical Microbiology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife 220005, Nigeria
c- Department of Preventive Dentistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife 220005, Nigeria

Accepted 21 September 2005. Available online 2 November 2005.

Summary
Background
Malaria is an important disease in the tropics, and its role as a predisposing factor or co morbidity has been investigated in many diseases including HIV infection and tuberculosis. There are very few studies, which have investigated its role in oral and dental diseases. Our study aimed to demonstrate the possible role of malaria in predisposing to pericoronitis, an infection affecting impacted third molars predominantly.
Patients and methods
Thirty-eight patients presenting with pericoronitis were tested for malaria parasites and results compared with that obtained from controls that were equally susceptible to pericoronitis but did not have the infection.

Results
19.7% of the study group compared to 6.6% of control group had malaria parasite in their blood. This difference was statistically significant, P=0.018 (Fisher's exact). The odds ratio was 4.3 (95% CI=1.2Ò17.0).

Conclusions
Malaria appears to be a predisposing factor to pericoronitis in this study. There is a need for further studies on the possible role of malaria in oral and dental diseases.

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