Demography and seasonal variation of acute necrotising gingivitis in Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to determine the frequency of Acute Necrotizing gingivitis (ANG), its sex and age distribution, ethnicity and seasonal variations among patients at the Dental Unit of Kenyatta National Hospital , Nairobi Kenya. cards of patients who were seen at the Dental unit of KNH in 1992/1193 were scrutinized for positive diagnosis of ANG, age, sex presenting signs and symptoms and treatment that was given. of the 53,572 patients who were treated, (.015%) had ANG. Their age range was 1.5-46 years(Mean=14.5 years), with 58.5% being bellow 11 years and 32.9% being between 21 and 40 years. The most affected ethnic groups were the Luos and Kikuyus, while 72% patients were seen in March and April, and September and December. It is concluded that the frequency of ANG is low, ANG affected children and adults, and ANG varied seasonally.