[Lesiones de mucosa bucal. Factores asociados en población infantil].

BACKGROUND: there are few systematic studies reporting the prevalence of oral mucosal lesions in children. The reported prevalence is ranging from 4.1 % to 52.6 %, probably due to differences in methodology and population. The aim was to identify the prevalence of oral mucosal lesions in children population.

METHODS: a cross, descriptive, retrospective study in children who attended the dental clinic San Lorenzo Atemoaya was done (January 2006-July 2009); the data was obtained from medical records. Oral mucosal lesions were recorded. Descriptive analysis and unconditional logistic regression were conducted.

RESULTS: the sample was 367; there were 200 males (54.5 %). The median age was six years. The prevalence of oral mucosal lesions was 66.2 %. The most common lesions were cheilitis simple (41.1 %), melanotic macule (18.3 %), petechiae (16.9 %) and traumatic ulcer (12 %), without difference between sexes. The sucking lip was associated with cheilitis simple (OR 1.7, p = 0.013) and recurrent ulcers with onychophagia (OR 15.75, p = 0.026).

CONCLUSIONS: it was observed a higher prevalence of oral mucosal lesions in children than reported in other papers. Association is confirmed between parafunctional habits and oral mucosal lesions.