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Candidiasis may induce glossodynia without objective manifestation
T Osaki1, K Yoneda, T Yamamoto
1Department of Oral Surgery, Kochi Medical School, Nankoku-city, Japan.
The American Journal of the Medical Sciences
|March 4, 2000
Summary
Candidiasis, often accompanied by hyposalivation (reduced saliva flow), can cause tongue pain (glossodynia) even without visible abnormalities. Treatment with antifungal medication effectively reduced Candida overgrowth and relieved pain.
Area of Science:
- Oral Medicine
- Mycology
- Diagnostic Medicine
Background:
- Glossodynia (tongue pain) diagnosis is challenging due to a wide range of causes and lack of objective abnormalities.
- Identifying the specific cause of glossodynia is crucial for effective treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the cause of glossodynia in patients presenting without objective oral abnormalities.
- To investigate the role of Candida albicans and salivary flow rate in glossodynia.
Main Methods:
- Examined peripheral blood, salivary flow rate (SFR), and glossal pain thresholds in 98 patients.
- Performed Candida albicans cell culture and assessed treatment response.
- Compared pain thresholds and SFR between patients and healthy controls.
Main Results:
- Identified candidiasis as the cause in 26 patients, characterized by hyposalivation, decreased glossal pain thresholds, and Candida overgrowth.
- Antifungal treatment significantly reduced Candida colonies and increased pain thresholds, alleviating glossodynia.
- Nonstimulated SFR was lower in patients, while stimulated SFR showed only a slight decrease.
Conclusions:
- Candidiasis combined with hyposalivation can induce glossodynia in the absence of objective oral findings.
- This study highlights the importance of investigating fungal infections and salivary function in unexplained tongue pain.