Year : 2021

Volume : Volume 12

Issue : Issue 5

Address for correspondence :
Dr. Roseline Patel
dr.roselinepatel@gmail.com

Abstract

Introduction: Areca nut is major risk factor for oral cancer; despite that it is the fourth most commonly used psychoactive substance in the world after caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine. Areca nut use is of great antiquity in India. In the past decade, oral cancer has been diagnosed with increasing frequency in young users (<35 years) of packaged areca nut products, bringing the potential carcinogenicity of areca nut into focus. Method: A total of 150 subjects belonging to the age group of 15–40 were selected by purposive sampling for areca nut habit. The different demographic factors and habit history were recorded and the data were analyzed. Results: Areca nut habit was more among the young males (68.6%) with lower education (33.3%) and economic status (65.3%). Community influence (33.3%) during the adolescent (36%) years and commercially available areca nut products (38%) were found as the major contributing factors. Oral submucous fibrosis was the common lesion (58.1%) found among the subjects of this study.

Keywords: Areca nut, Tobacco, Prevalence, Young