Intestinal Parasites and Anaemic Status in Oral Submucous Fibrosis

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The study was undertaken to assess the intestinal helminth load of patients with advanced OSF by stool examination for representative pathogens. The findings were correlated with the haematologic profile (anaemic status) of these patients. A statistically significant reduction in haemoglobin levels of test subjects compared to healthy controls was reported. (9.47+0.95gm/dl against 11.70+0.72gm/dl). This was in agreement with earlier haematological studies on OSF but the concurrent low intestinal parasite load recorded amongst them is difficult to be explained. (Chi-square 2, df=1, p=0.15 - not significant).