Background and Aim: Orofacial infections of odontogenic origin are a common and important health concern in pediatric population. Incorrect or late treatment may lead to serious and possibly life threatening complications. The aim of this study is to analyze the data on pediatric hospitalizations due to odontogenic infections in Baruch Padeh Poriya Medical Center and to isolate parameters predicting prolonged hospital length of stay (LOS).
Methods: Data was collected from patients’ (age<15) records hospitalized due to odontogenic infections in the Pediatric / Oral and Maxillofacial surgery department in Baruch Padeh Poriya Medical Center, during the period of 1/2010-12/2015. Patients of facial infection of other origin were excluded from the data.
Results: A total of 411 patents were included. 58.7% of them were male, 66.9% of non-Jewish ethnicity. Roughly half were discharged after a single day of hospitalization. The most common infected spaces were the buccal and infra orbital with a third of the cases each. 42.8% percent of the patients were not previously treated with antibiotics. 79.8% of patients did not present >38̊ body temperature at admission and 98.8% of them were treated by drainage with or without extraction of the involved tooth. 91% of the patients received antibiotics after discharge and 4.6% were admitted for re-hospitalization. There was significantly higher (P<0.05) values of Leukocytes and CRP in patients with >3 LOS and they were also significantly older.
Conclusion: Risk factors for prolonged length of stay were: older age, Arab ethnicity and higher Leukocytes and CRP values at admission.
