FLUOROSIS IN SENEGAL[
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Brouwer ID, de Bruin A, Hautvast JG, Backer Dirks O.[
A survey was done to register the prevalence of dental fluorosis among children aged 7-16 years and the occurrence of skeletal fluorosis among adults aged 40-60 years living in regions in Senegal where fluoride concentrations in the drinking water ranged from less than 0.1 mg/l to 7.4 mg/l. In[
the area where the fluoride concentration in the drinking water was 1.1 mg/l milder forms of dental fluorosis were found, the prevalence being 68.5%. In areas where fluoride concentrations exceeded 4 mg/l the prevalence of dental fluorosis reached 100%. Kyphosis was very prevalent in a community whose drinking water contained 7.4 mg/l fluoride. [
Radiographs of the vertebral column, hand and wrist of 3 adults with kyphosis confirmed the diagnosis of skeletal fluorosis. High sweat loss and a high intake of water because of the hot weather may account for the present findings. [
The World Health Organisation guidelines for the fluoride concentration in drinking water seems unsuitable for countries with a hot, dry climate.[
Brouwer ID, de Bruin A, Hautvast JG, Backer Dirks O.[
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PMID: 2622495 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]