Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3 European Archives of Paediatric Dentistry https://doi.org/10.1007/s40368-019-00415-x ORIGINAL SCIENTIFIC ARTICLE Acquisition of Streptococcus mutans and dental caries experience in pediatric sickle cell anaemia patients under various prophylactic therapies S. Hanumanta 1  · R. M. Shetty 2  · O. Khandwal 3  · S. Rath 4  · S. Y. Shetty 5  · R. K. Diwan 6 Received: 30 October 2018 / Accepted: 9 January 2019 © European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry 2019 Abstract Objectives To determine the acquisition of Streptococcus mutans and dental caries experience in children with sickle cell anaemia (SCA) under various prophylactic therapies. Methods This study involved a total of 200 children who were divided into fve groups comprising of 40 children each. Group SP included children who received prophylactic penicillin, Group SV who received pneumococcal vaccination, Group SPV who received both prophylactic penicillin and pneumococcal vaccination, Group SW who did not receive any prophylactic therapy and Group CC who were controls. Stimulated saliva samples from volunteers were collected and cultured in Mitis Salivarius Bacitracin (MSB) agar for estimation of Streptococcus mutans. Decayed, Missing, Filled (DMFT) index/decayed, exfoliated, and flled tooth (deft) index was used for assessment of dental caries. Results Group SP, Group SV, and Group SPV showed statistically signifcant diference in Streptococcus mutans count and dental caries experience in children when compared to Group SW and Group CC (p < 0.05) with the maximum reduction in Group SPV. No signifcant diferences were observed in Group SW and Group CC. Conclusions Reduction in the Streptococcus mutans acquisition and dental caries experience was seen in children with SCA who received prophylactic therapy with the least acquisition in combination therapy (Group SPV). Keywords Antibiotic prophylaxis · Dental caries · Pneumococcal vaccination · Sickle cell anaemia · Streptococcus mutans Introduction Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA) is one of the most familiar hemoglobinopathies inherited through an autosomal reces- sive mutant gene. If only one of the pairs of the chromosome is afected, sickle cell trait develops, while Sickle Cell Dis- ease (SCD) refects the involvement of both chromosomes (Frenette and Atweh 2007). In the orofacial development of the child, it is of utmost importance to preserve the primary dentition as long as possible (McDonald et al. 2011). One of the pathologic conditions primarily disturbing this natural harmony is dental caries. Dental caries is a microbial disease of the calcifed tissues of the teeth. It is still considered to be one of the most prevalent chronic diseases afecting the human race (Shafer et al. 1983). The aetiology of dental car- ies is multifactorial. Mutans streptococci are the main etio- logical microorganisms in caries disease, with lactobacilli and other microorganisms sharing in the disease progression (Tanzer 1992). * R. M. Shetty raghavendra77@yahoo.com; dr.raghavendra@gmu.ac.ae 1 Department of Paedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Government Dental College, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India 2 Department of Preventive and Paediatric and Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Gulf Medical University, P.O. Box: 4184, Ajman, United Arab Emirates 3 Department of Paediatrics, Pt. J. N. M. Medical College, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India 4 Department of Paedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Hi Tech Dental College and Hospital, Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, India 5 Department of Periodontics, Maitri Dental College, Durg, Chhattisgarh, India 6 Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Maitri Dental College, Durg, Chhattisgarh, India