Unusually high incidence of multifocal epithelial hyperplasia in children of the Nahuatl population of Mexico

Abstract

Background: Multifocal epithelial hyperplasia is an uncommon disease of the oral mucosa caused by the human papilloma virus.

Aim: To study the clinical and pathological findings of multifocal epithelial hyperplasia detected during an oral examination of 343 Mexican Nahuatl children from a single primary school in El Paso de Cupilco, Mexico.

Methods: A thorough oral examination was performed in all children and clinical data (age, gender, location and number of lesions) were documented and analyzed.

Results: Multifocal epithelial hyperplasia was diagnosed in 110 of the 343 children (32.3%). The ages of the children varied from 5 to 15 years, and of these, 56.3% were girls. The lesions were asymptomatic, 0.2 to 3.0 cm in diameter, soft, round to oval, smooth surfaced, sessile papulonodules, similar in colour to that of the surrounding mucosa. The lesions were commonly seen on the buccal mucosa and tongue, and most affected children (85%) had less than 5 lesions. Children in the 7 to 10 years age group were most often affected.

Limitations: Human papillomavirus typing was not done owing to a lack of facilities.

Conclusions: There is a high incidence of multifocal epithelial hyperplasia in Nahuatl children with a predilection for females.