User:Hildarene/Infant Oral Mutilation

Infant Oral Mutilation new article content ...

Introduction
Infant Oral Mutilation (IOM) is the western name for a dangerous and sometimes fatal traditional practice that has been performed for decades in many African countries. If a baby has diarrhoea, vomiting or a fever, the parent takes the child to the local village healer who will diagnose "tooth worms" as the cause of the illness and will dig these out of the gums using a non-sterile tool such as a hot or sharpened nail, a bicycle spoke or knitting needle, with no anaesthesia.

What are "tooth worms"?
The healer will look into the child's mouth and see the swelling of the gums which results from the normal eruption of the baby teeth, usually of the eye teeth as these are more prominent. It is the normally developing tooth buds which are prised out and shown to the parent, their milky appearance simulating "tooth worms".

What are the consequences of this?
This malpractice inflicts more pain and suffering on an already sick child and, in some cases, is carried out on a healthy child in a bid to prevent illness.
 * Loss of blood and shock can lead to anaemia.
 * The unhygienic methods can cause blood infections, tetanus, pass on HIV/AIDS, and can on occasion be fatal.
 * The underlying permanent tooth buds can be damaged or eradicated, causing malformations and longterm crowding.
 * The existing illness may not receive the medical attention necessary.

In which countries is this practised?
There is published evidence of IOM occurring in Chad, D.R.Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. It has also been observed in African immigrants now living in France, Israel, USA, Australia, Norway and the UK. A Literature Analysis of the above published papers with full references is available at http://www.dentaid.org/resources/iommaterials

Is anything being done about it?
The UK oral health charity, Dentaid, has been concerned about IOM since its CEO visited Northern Uganda on a fact-finding mission and witnessed at first hand the death of a baby girl from septicaemia. She had had some of her baby teeth removed using bicycle spokes. The charity has been researching the extent of the malpractice and has published a detailed Overview of Infant Oral Mutilation which is available on its website at http://www.dentaid.org/resources/iommaterials. It is actively working to raise awareness of IOM amongst governments, teachers, health professionals and charities working in the relevant countries, and to encourage further research into its prevalence and strategies to combat the malpractice.