Visual and dental problems are the main diseases in children in Mexico

Visual diseases such as myopia and astigmatism , along with dental conditions such as cavities, represent the main health problems among school-aged children in Mexico . These conditions especially affect children in rural communities, where access to diagnosis and treatment is limited, experts warned on Monday.

"These diseases undoubtedly have an even greater impact on the rural population due to the difficulties in accessing health services," explained Patricia Reina, a dental specialist at the ABC Medical Center.

According to the Specific Action Program for the Prevention, Detection and Control of Oral Diseases 2020-2024 of the Ministry of Health, in Mexico 60% of children and adolescents have dental caries when entering primary or secondary school.

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While in rural communities in Chiapas, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Veracruz, Michoacán, Guanajuato, Morelos and the State of Mexico, the prevalence reaches up to 80% of this population.

Reina stated that, according to the Epidemiological Surveillance System for Oral Pathologies (SIVEPAB), in 2023 it was detected that 93.5% of children between 2 and 10 years of age have cavities in 20% of their teeth, "which means that 9 out of 10 children in Mexico are affected by cavities."

Cavities are multifactorial, since they depend on diet, oral hygiene, the quality of saliva, genetics and the presence of cariogenic bacteria, said the specialist.

The dentist pointed out that it is increasingly common to detect early childhood caries, which is determined when it occurs in children under 5 years of age in more than two teeth.

"This happens because they fall asleep with the bottle in their mouth, so the milk remains as a substrate, the bacteria becomes acidic and cavities occur on almost the entire tooth surface," Reina explained.

In rural communities, the main barriers to detection are the lack of access to a dentist and the limited information about risk factors for families, in addition to poor or non-existent brushing, the specialist said.

Visual diseases, another problem

Claudia Murillo Correa, a pediatric ophthalmologist at the ABC Medical Center, said that eye diseases can cause significant limitations in the quality of life of children if they are not detected in time, including poor learning.

Worldwide, between 30 and 40% of people will have some visual impairment , known as ametropia or refractive errors, however, these figures are increasing due to the use of electronic devices, Correa said.

"It is estimated that around 45 to 50% of the population will probably become myopic by 2050," said the specialist.

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In rural communities, according to the Ministry of Health, myopia, astigmatism and hyperopia are the most common visual problems.

"In addition, in Mexico the presence of diabetes mellitus is a problem that in the long run causes damage to the eyes and if there are still diabetic children, we will have young people with serious visual problems," Correa emphasized.

Given this situation, the Genomma Lab Foundation highlighted the importance of facing these challenges in a multi-sectoral manner in order to contribute to caring for children who live in remote communities and do not have easy access to diagnosis and treatment in order to generate a lasting impact.

"Mexico's challenges require comprehensive and collaborative responses, and social responsibility becomes crucial to address pressing needs," said Sabrina Herrera Aspra, president of the foundation.

YC