Browsing by Author "Turton, Mervyn Sydney"

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    Barriers to oral health care among people living with HIV in Kwazulu Natal and the Western Cape
    (University of the Western Cape, 2008) Turton, Mervyn Sydney; Naidoo, Sudeshni; Faculty of Dentistry
    HIV/AIDS is a major problem in South Africa with more than 25 percent of the adult population infected with HIV. Oral lesions and various opportunistic infections characterize the progression of HIV making it imperative for people living with HIV to have access to good quality oral care. There is a need to examine accessibility and use of dental services in South Africans living with HIV as very little research in this regard, has been undertaken. Aim: To investigate the barriers to oral health care for people living with HIV in the KZN and the WC. Research Design and Methodology: A cross-sectional study utilising a self-administered questionnaire and semi-structured interviews has been employed. Participants were people living with HIV older than 18 years attending HIV clinics located throughout Kwa-Zulu Natal and WC. Binary logistic regression was performed to determine the variables associated with not obtaining care.
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    A Case Report on Symptomatic Primary Herpetic Gingivostomatitis
    (MedCrave, 2017) Turton, Mervyn Sydney
    Primary herpetic gingivostomatitis is a common paediatric infection and the causative organism in 90% of cases is herpes simplex virus type 1, with complications that range from indolent cold sores to dehydration and even life-threatening encephalitis. A nine year old, female presented with a main complaint of difficulty eating due to pain associated with multiple shallow oval oral ulcers. PHG has to be differentiated clinically from acute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis, recurrent HSV infection, herpangia, aphtous ulcers, erythema multiforme, teething, allergic stomatitis and ulcers due to chemotherapy. Management of PHG is palliative and supportive, with symptomatic relief that primarily involves pain management and oral fluids to prevent dehydration until the viral infection subsides, prevention of dehydration, and shortening the duration of lesions even though orolabial herpetic infections are usually self-limiting. The aim of this case study was to highlight a symptomatic case of PHG which required an astute diagnosis and a comprehensive treatment plan with emphasises on the importance for oral health clinicians to have a holistic approach to management of oral disease.
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    A simple point of care test can indicate the need for periodontal therapy to reduce the risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes in mothers attending antenatal clinics
    (Taylor & Francis Group, 2017) Turton, Mervyn Sydney; Africa, Charlene W.J.; Henkel, Ralf; Africa, Charlene W.J.
    INTRODUCTION: Although the association between periodontal disease (PD) and adverse pregnancy outcomes has gained recognition amongst antenatal healthcare workers, not much has changed in practice to address it. This prospective study tested the hypothesis that BANA (N-benzoyl-DL-arginine- 2-naphthylamide), a diagnostic test for PD, may inform obstetricians and other antenatal healthcare practitioners, of the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in mothers attending antenatal clinics. METHODS: At first visit, the presence of suspected periodontopathogens was assessed by BANA testing of dental plaque from 443 mothers attending antenatal clinics in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and an association later sought with pregnancy outcomes. The accuracy of BANA to predict adverse pregnancy outcomes was evaluated by the calculation of likelihood ratios. The study complied with the Declaration of Helsinki. RESULTS: Significant differences were found between pregnancy outcomes of BANA-negative and BANA-positive mothers (p<0.0001). BANA showed sensitivity and negative predictive values of 87% and 91%; 75% and 78%; 87% and 94% in detecting low birth weight, preterm delivery, and preterm low birth weight delivery respectively. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that BANA may indicate the need for periodontal therapy to reduce the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes and could form part of the routine antenatal examination.