Analysis on the prevalence of drinking-tea type endemic fluorosis among children in Lhasa, Tibet

Abstract

Objective To investigate the prevalence of drinking-tea type endemic fluorosis among children in Lhasa, Tibet, and to provide basic data for the early prevention of dental fluorosis and skeletal fluorosis among children.

Methods Stratified cluster random sampling method was used to select primary school 1 991 students in 6 counties.

Results The detection rate of dental fluorosis was 27.2%, the index of dental fluorosis was 0.44, and the total severity of fluorosis prevalence was identified as very mild among 6 counties. The detection rate of dental fluorosis increased with the age of the children: male and female increased by 36.2 and 28.5 percentage points, respectively. There was no significant difference between male and female students (χ ² = 0.08, P > 0.05). The urine fluoride test results suggested that urine fluoride concentration among participate children was below the standard limits value(geometric mean of urinary fluorine <1.4 mg/L).

Conclusion The prevalence of tea-drinking type endemic fluorosis among children in Lhasa is more serious compared with that from other regions of China. The cumulative effect of fluorine in human body makes older students more prone to dental fluorosis. It is suggested that more school-based health education programs should be carried out to prevent tea drinking type endemic fluorosis.

Abstract

【摘要】 目的 了解拉萨市儿童饮茶型地氟病流行现状，为早期预防儿童氟斑牙和氟骨症提供基础数据。 方法 采 用分层整群随机抽样方法，对拉萨市 6 个流行县 (区) 的学校 1 991 名小学生进行氟斑牙检査和尿样氟化物检测。 结果 氟斑牙检出率为 27.2%, 氟斑牙指数为 0.44, 6 个县 (区) 整体流行强度判定为边缘流行。氟斑牙检出率随儿童年龄增长而 升髙, 男女童分别上升 36.2, 28.5 百分点, 男、女生氟斑牙检出率差异无统计学意义 (χ ² = 0.08, P>0.05)。各县 (区) 儿童尿 氟化物检测结果均未超标 (尿氟几何均值均 <1.4 mg/L)。 结论 拉萨市儿童饮茶型地氟病流行情况较国内其他地区严 重, 氟在人体内的累积作用使得年龄较大的儿童更容易患氟斑牙;建议以学校为基础开展饮茶型地氟病的防治健康教育。