Dental Caries and Oral Mucositis Among Children Undergoing Cancer Therapy at Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background Dental caries and oral mucositis are often experienced by children undergoing antineoplastic therapy. Understanding the prevalence and characteristics of these complications is essential for developing targeted supportive oral care strategies to improve overall treatment outcomes and the quality of life of the children. Methods This study employed a cross-sectional design with 102 children aged three to 12 years undergoing cancer therapy at Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya. Participants were selected through purposive sampling. Data was collected via a structured questionnaire and clinical oral examination, with dental caries assessed using the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (dmft, primary teeth)/Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT, permanent teeth) index, and oral mucositis assessed using the WHO Oral Mucositis Scale (1979). Results Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia was the most prevalent cancer subtype and chemotherapy the most common antineoplastic treatment. The prevalence of dental caries was 58.8%, with higher occurrence in children aged six to 12 years (p = 0.025). Oral mucositis was observed in 28.4% of children, mainly Grades I and II, while only 2.9% had undergone dental assessment before cancer therapy. Discussion Children undergoing cancer therapy had a higher prevalence of dental caries compared to the 2015 Kenya National Oral Health Survey. Oral mucositis prevalence was lower than many reports, likely reflecting study design and patient heterogeneity. Conclusion Including a dentist in the multidisciplinary cancer care team may improve outcomes through pre-treatment assessments, ongoing oral care and active surveillance of oral complications due to antineoplastic treatment.