TONGUE PAIN
TONGUE PAIN: Excerpt from Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs
Pain in the tongue is rarely an isolated symptom. There is usually a focal or diffuse inflammation of the tongue or an ulcerating lesion. Diffuse inflammation is found in antibiotic glossitis, glossitis of avitaminosis (pernicious anemia), aphthous stomatitis, thrush, streptococcal glossitis, and acute diffuse glossitis. Focal lesions include cuts and ulcerations from trauma, such as the bitten tongue or burned tongue (hot pizza, etc.), or injury from a sharp tooth or jagged dental plate. Other painful focal lesions are carcinoma, tuberculosis, syphilis (often painless), and herpes simplex ulcers. When the tongue is completely normal, trigeminal neuralgia, polymyositis, trichinosis, and calculus of the submaxillary gland should be considered.
DIAGNOSTIC WORKUP
Most lesions will respond to conservative treatment and time. In patients with signs of systemic disease and vitamin deficiency, the workup includes serum B12 and folate level, upper GI series, ANA, and
Trichinella
antibody titer. Focal lesions that persist should command a referral to a dentist or oral surgeon.
Book Source Details
- Book Title: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs
- Author(s): R. Douglas Collins
- Year of Publication: 2003
- Copyright Details: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs, Copyright © 2003 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
More About Glossopharyngeal neuralgia
More Medical Textbooks Online about Glossopharyngeal neuralgia
Review other book chapters online related to Glossopharyngeal neuralgia:
Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.
» Next page: SMOOTH TONGUE AND OTHER CHANGES (Differential Diagnosis in Primary Care)
Rate This Website
What do you think about the features of this website?
Take our user survey and have your say:
Website User Survey
Medical Tools & Articles:
Next articles:
Tools & Services:
Medical Articles:
Forums & Message Boards
- Ask or answer a question at the Boards:
