MEDICAL AND ODONTOLOGIC DIAGNOSIS IN CHILDREN, AGES 0 TO 71 MONTHS, ATTENDED AT THE “JUAN PABLO II” HEALTH CENTER IN CARABAYLLO, LIMA, PERÚ.

A review of the statistics of medical, nursery and dental attention in 2006 (January – December) was performed.  The respiratory infections were diagnosed more frequently (52.5%), followed by diarrheitic diseases (8.5%) of all age groups. Dental caries over the dentine was reported at 48-59 months and 50-71 months (4.6 and 7.1% respectively), followed by abscess (2.1% at 50 – 71 months).

A mean of 572 attention were carried out monthly during the whole process (SD= 303.6). The most requested service was General Medicine (47%), followed by Growth and Development (26.4%) Immunization (21.7%) and Dentistry (4.9%). Children under 24 months were those who use the General Medicine, Immunization and Growth and Development with more frequency (27.3%, 25.3% and 19.8% respectively). However, the Dentistry service for that age only reported 0.005%. Its frequency was higher as the age increases (24-35 months, 0.3%; 36-47, 0.4%; 48-59 months, 0.8% and 60-71 months, 2.8%).

The mothers of children < 24-months came to the service mainly for medical assistance, growth and development evaluations and immunization. It is clear that the demand for dental attention is too little and too late.  This factor could be affected by a lack of information in preventive dentistry.   

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