Care and reception strategies in dental care for children with Congenital Zika Syndrome: An experience report from PET Clínica

Abstract

The objective of this article is to report on the care and reception strategies offered in dental care for children with Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS) through the extension project entitled PET Clínica: comprehensive care for patients with special needs. Since 2017, in a pioneering way in the municipality of Feira de Santana-BA, the program has implemented early dental care for children diagnosed with CZS. The actions focus on outpatient care, health education, and professional training. In the clinical setting, low and medium complexity care is provided in a humanized manner, with qualified listening and personalized conduct. Health education activities include waiting rooms, guidance on oral health and diet, and the production of educational materials. Training workshops and presentations on CZS are also held. In 2024, 32 care sessions were carried out, of which 53.2% were for female children and 46.8% for male children. The implementation of preventive strategies was essential to improve the quality of oral and general health of these children, reducing the rates of oral diseases and strengthening the interaction between the university and the community. This provided more humanized care and enriched the academic training of the students participating in the program. It is concluded that the strategies adopted by PET Clínica, by considering not only the pathology, but the individual as a whole, enable more comprehensive oral health care. The applied approaches prove to be viable for the prevention of diseases and promotion of children's oral health, directly benefiting children with SZC and their families.