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Oral hydration in children with cerebral palsy
Santos, Maria Teresa Botti Rodrigues; Ferreira, Maria Cristina Duarte; Guaré, Renata Oliveira; Nascimento, Oliver A. & Jardim, Jose R.
Abstract
Salivary osmolality reflects the hydration status of individuals with cerebral palsy necessary for
adequate unstimulated salivary flow rate. Aim: To investigate whether oral motor performance is
determinant for the hydration status and the effect of a supplemental oral fluid supply on salivary
osmolality. Methods: The sample consisted of 99 children with cerebral palsy aged 6 to 13 years
old. In this study, children participated in 2-day evaluations: 1st day - baseline: saliva collection,
caries experience and oral motor performance evaluations; and 2nd day: saliva collection after
supplemental fluid supply. Prior to each evaluation, the participants were trained for saliva collection.
Unstimulated whole saliva was collected using cotton roll at baseline, with the amount of fluid
usually offered by caregivers, and 48 h after baseline, with as much as twice the normal daily fluid
intake previously offered. Salivary osmolality was measured using a freezing point depression
osmometer. Caries experience index for decayed, missed and filled teeth (DMFT) was evaluated.
According to the Oral Motor Assessment Scale, the children were classified into subfunctional or
functional groups. Chi-square, Student’s t test and Pearson’s correlation coefficient were used.
Results: The subfunctional group presented a higher percentage of quadriplegic children
(p<0.001), with significantly higher values for caries experience (p<0.001) and salivary osmolality
(p<0.001), which did not diminish when supplemental fluid supply was offered, compared with the
functional group (p=0.001). Conclusions: The effectiveness of oral motor performance plays
an important role in the hydration status of children with cerebral palsy and those with worse oral
motor performance may be at higher risk of oral diseases.
Keywords
cerebral palsy; motor skills disorders; muscle spasticity; osmolar concentration; fluid therapy
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