Impact of asthma and its treatment on periodontal and oral health in Moroccan children.

PURPOSE: To assess periodontal and oral health status in Moroccan children and evaluate asthma-related factors, including treatment characteristics and oral conditions. METHODS: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 228 children aged 3-15 years, including asthmatic and non-asthmatic participants recruited at a tertiary university hospital. The groups were matched for age and sex. Data collection included sociodemographic characteristics, asthma-related variables (severity and treatment), and oral hygiene practices. Periodontal status was assessed using the Plaque Index (PI) and Gingival Index (GI), along with the evaluation of salivary flow and oral mucosal conditions. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with periodontal outcomes. RESULTS: Asthmatic children showed significantly higher mean PI and GI scores compared with nonasthmatic children (p < 0.001). Gingival inflammation and oral candidiasis were significantly more prevalent in asthmatic children. In multivariate analysis, reduced salivary flow remained independently associated with higher PI scores, while longer treatment duration remained independently associated with increased GI scores among asthmatic children. CONCLUSION: Childhood asthma and prolonged asthma treatment may be associated with poorer periodontal and oral health status. Reduced salivary flow may contribute to plaque accumulation among asthmatic children. These findings highlight the need for increased awareness and preventive oral health care in pediatric patients with asthma.