Management of cellulitis of the floor of the mouth in a Cameroonian secondary hospital

Abstract

Context: Cellulitis of the floor of the mouth is dangerous condition because of their life-threatening potential due to their locations. Aims: The objective of this study was to evaluate and document the pattern of cellulitis of the floor of the mouth seen in a hospital of rural region of Cameroon. Settings and Design: This descriptive and prospective study was conducted in the Odontostomatology Unit of the Garoua Regional Hospital (Cameroon). Subjects and Methods: All patients presenting with cellulitis of the floor of the mouth between December 2020 and February 2021 were included in the study. The data concerning demography (age and sex), clinic (risk factors, symptoms, signs, etiology, and evolutionary stage), treatment (medical, surgical, and their evolution), and prognosis were analyzed using quantitative descriptive analysis. Results: Thirty-four patients representing 10.39% of the total consulted were enrolled. The male represented 55.88%. The mean age was 31.68 years. The etiology was odontogenic in 91.18% of cases. Swelling (100%), pain (100%), trismus (97.65%), dysphagia (88.23%), asthenia (76.47%), cervical spreading (58.82%), and poor oral hygiene (94.11%) were the main clinical signs. The cellulitis was suppurative in 76.47% of cases. All patients received probabilistic antibiotic therapy. Corticosteroids (61.76%), surgical (91.18%), and etiological treatment (82.35%) were associated. Complications occurred in 8.82% of cases. A favorable evolution was seen in 94.12% of cases. Death occurred in 5.88% of cases. Conclusions: Cellulitis of the floor of the mouth is still frequent in developing countries. Adequate management of these pathologies is the main condition to reduce their mortality rate.