Desquamative glossitis, or "geographic tongue" - causes and signs of desquamative glossitis, or "geographic tongue"

According to clinical manifestations, there are three forms of pathology:

1. Superficial - damaged areas appear as smooth stripes or spots surrounded by healthy tissue.
2. Hyperplastic - characterized by hypertrophy of filiform papillae, due to which the lesions become dense with a white, gray or yellow coating.
3. Lichenoid - fungiform papillae are compacted, the affected areas migrate. This is usually observed in people with high sensitivity to the material used for the dental prosthesis.

By causes:

• primary;
• secondary.

By prevalence:

• single;
• multiple.

Causes

The causes of the pathology have not been fully studied. Presumably, it is based on a violation of the trophism of the mucous membrane. The primary form develops independently. The secondary - against the background of various diseases and conditions. These include:

• constant trauma to the tongue, chemical or thermal burns;
• teething in babies;
• chronic inflammation of the digestive tract;
• metabolic disorders;
• vitamin deficiency, especially group B;
• systemic diseases: scleroderma, lupus erythematosus, rheumatism;
• skin problems: psoriasis, diathesis;
• acute infections: scarlet fever, acute respiratory infections, typhoid fever;
• dysbacteriosis, worms;
• drug intoxication, especially uncontrolled use of certain antibiotics;
• hereditary factor.

Symptoms

There is a characteristic clinical picture of desquamative glossitis and certain stages of its development.

At first, a whitish cloudy area up to several millimeters in size appears on the tongue. Subsequently, it "bulges", forming a reddish rounded lesion due to the exfoliation of filiform papillae. Around the affected area, the cloudy epithelium is raised.

The affected area rapidly increases, and desquamation decreases. The affected epithelium has a different shape and a clear boundary, red dots - fungiform papillae - are clearly visible on it. Later, the borders blur, the center of the zone is restored, and outside the affected area, on the contrary, desquamation begins.

Single or multiple areas migrate, overlap each other.

The picture of the "geographic tongue" can change daily.

Usually, "migrating glossitis" is asymptomatic, so it is discovered by chance. Some patients complain of itching, burning, tingling, especially with mechanical or chemical exposure. The disease can be complicated by psychological disorders, a fear of getting cancer (cancerophobia) is typical.

Diagnostics

The dentist establishes a diagnosis based on an examination, patient complaints, laboratory and biochemical blood tests, and an RV test.

A smear is taken from the oral cavity, a scraping for microflora, an analysis for the presence of parasites, and histology. An ultrasound of the vessels is performed. The diagnosis requires differentiation from syphilis, other types of glossitis, lichen ruber, flat leukoplakia, Addison-Biermer syndrome, scleroderma, erythema, ariboflavinosis, allergies.

You may need to consult an infectious disease specialist or maxillofacial surgeon.

Treatment

If there are no complaints, there is no need for treatment. If pain, itching, or burning occurs, then rinsing with antiseptic solutions, baths, and applications with special medications are recommended. If symptoms are severe, novocaine blockades are performed and local painkillers are prescribed. It is necessary to eliminate the underlying cause and associated pathologies.

Prevention

Preventive measures for desquamative glossitis include proper oral hygiene, timely treatment and regular visits to the doctor.

Cases of malignancy of this disease have not been identified.

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