Abstract
Background
Paediatric endocrine disorders represent a spectrum of conditions that affect hormone synthesis, regulation and function in childhood and adolescence. They present with intraoral features that may compromise the long-term well-being and oral health of affected individuals, potentially persisting into their adult years when appropriate diagnosis and therapeutic intervention are delayed or inadequate. This study aims to determine the prevalent oral manifestations of endocrine disorders among children attending the Paediatric Endocrinology Clinic of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).Methods
A cross-sectional study was done among 50 paediatric patients aged (6-18 years) with endocrine disorders, recruited via consecutive sampling. Data collection employed interviewer-administered questionnaires covering medical and dental histories, followed by standardized intraoral examinations of soft and hard tissues. Ethical approval, informed consent, and participant assent were obtained. Data was analysed using SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics included frequencies and percentages. Inferential analysis was performed using Chi-square test to evaluate associations between categorical variables. Statistical significance was set at p Results
Type 1 diabetes mellitus was the predominant condition among the participants (n = 27, 54.0%), followed by hypothyroidism (n = 7, 14.0%). Other endocrine disorders, including congenital adrenal hyperplasia (n = 6, 12.0%), Turner syndrome, Cushing syndrome, adrenal insufficiency, and metabolic syndrome, were each represented by single cases (2.0% each). Oral dryness emerged as the leading soft tissue manifestation (n = 27, 54.0%), accompanied by oral pigmentation (n = 20, 40.0%), gingivitis (n = 7, 14.0%), and oral ulceration (n = 6, 12.0%). Enamel defects, crossbite, dental crowding, open bite, and dental caries were the primary hard tissue findings, each occurring in eight participants (n = 8, 19.0%).Conclusions
There is a significant prevalence of oral pathologies among paediatric patients with endocrine disorders. Findings support incorporating dental evaluations into endocrinological care protocols and highlight the need for coordinated inter-professional management involving endocrinologists, paediatric dentists, and orthodontists.