DO TEMPERATURE AND ATMOSPHERIC-PRESSURE AFFECT THE INCIDENCE OF SERIOUS ODONTOGENIC INFECTION

Objective, The purpose of this study was to investigate the popular be lief that the incidence of odontogenic cellulitis is weather-related. Two meteorologic parameters were examined: temperature and atmospheric pressure. Study Design, To test the hypothesis being studied, a retro spective cohort study design was used. Medical reports oi all patients with serious odontogenic cellulitis who were treated at the Salpetrie re University Hospital between January 1, 1995, and December 31, 1995, (a total of 301 cases) were evaluated in relation to the weather. Hyp othesizing that the incidence of odontogenic cellulitis was constant o ver a period oi 1 year, the authors calculated the probability of obse rved incidence for Each month over a 12-month period. The mean number of cases of odontogenic cellulitis (+/- standard error of the mean) fo r days on which (1) the temperature was within the same 2 degrees-C (3 .6 degrees-F) interval and (2) the atmospheric pressure was within the same 3-hPa (2.25-mmHg) interval was also calculated. Results, When th e monthly incidence of odontogenic cellulitis and either the average t emperature or the average atmospheric pressure for each month were exa mined together, fluctuation in the former seemed to be independent of the latter. Similarly, when we calculated the mean number of cases of odontogenic cellulitis for several intervals of temperature and atmosp heric pressure without taking the calendar into account, no direct rel ationship could be observed. Conclusion, The results of the study sugg est that the occurrence of odontogenic cellulitis is not influenced by the weather, at least insofar as weather is measured by temperature a nd atmospheric pressure.