A cross sectional study of oral submucous fibrosis in central India and the effect of local triamcinolone therapy.

The use of processed arecanut is on the increase. In the impending danger of increased occurrence of oral submucous fibrosis and subsequent oral cancer following this habit is colossal. So an attempt is made to clinically evaluate the condition and to evaluate the effect of triamcinolone on this condition. Using the clinical data collected from the patients presenting in the ENT OPD of NSCB Medical College Hospital, Jabalpur, a cross sectional study was done and the effect of intralesional triamcinolone on this condition is noted by biweekly submucosal injections of 40 mg triamcinolone for 12 weeks and followed up for 1 year. The effect of therapy was evaluated subjectively by improvement in symptoms and objectively by increase in mouth opening. The age of occurrence and sex predilection also showed a significant change with more young males being affected by the condition. There was no significant correlation between effect of triamcinolone therapy and duration of addiction but a significant correlation (P < 0.0001) was noted with the frequency of addiction per day. A significant improvement in mouth opening is observed following local triamcinolone therapy. The results imply that the exposure and the frequency of chewing habits, and not mere the duration that is significant in producing the condition and affecting the treatment outcome. Local triamcinolone therapy has good effect in the initial stages of the disease. The fact that more youngsters are being affected needs serious consideration.