Early childhood caries and candida albicans.

Data sourcesSeven electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library, LILACS and ClinicalTrials.gov and grey literature were searched. There was no information regarding the restriction of language or publication date.Study selectionFour reviewers included both epidemiological and experimental clinical studies that investigated the presence of oral C. albicans in children (age < 6 years), with or without ECC. Studies including children with severe systematic diseases were excluded.Data extraction and synthesisData were abstracted independently by four reviewers. Risk of bias was assessed using the Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies. Meta-analysis was performed. The overall odds ratio of associations between the presence of C. albicans and ECC was calculated. Subgroup analysis on the different sample collection sites (plaque, swab and saliva) was performed.ResultsFifteen cross-sectional studies were included for the qualitative assessment and nine studies for meta-analysis. Regarding the quality assessment, all included studies were rated as 'fair' or 'good'. Children with the presence of oral C. albicans had 6.51 times as likely, to have ECC experience, compared to those without C. albicans (95% CI: 4.948.57, p<0.01). The odds of experiencing ECC in children with C. albicans versus those without C. albicans were 6.69 for plaque, 6.3 for oral swab, and 5.26 for salivary samples.ConclusionsChildren with oral C. albicans have higher odds of experiencing ECC, compared to children without C. albicans.