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Atrophic tongue associated with Candida.
Haruhiko Terai1, Masashi Shimahara
1Department of Oral Surgery, Osaka Medical College, Osaka, Japan. ora007@poh.osaka-med.ac.jp
Summary
Oral candidiasis is a likely cause of painful atrophic tongue, even with mild changes. Antifungal treatment effectively resolves pain and promotes tongue healing.
Area of Science:
- Oral Medicine
- Mycology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Atrophic tongue is traditionally linked to nutritional deficiencies (B12, folic acid, iron) or conditions like median rhomboid glossitis and geographic tongue.
- Oral candidiasis is an additional, often overlooked, cause of atrophic tongue.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between oral candidiasis and atrophic tongue presenting with pain.
- To evaluate the efficacy of antifungal treatment for painful atrophic tongue.
Main Methods:
- Forty patients with atrophic tongue and eating pain were assessed for candidiasis.
- Laboratory tests included blood analysis (diabetes, anemia), fungal culture, and cytology.
- Pain intensity was measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS) pre- and post-treatment.
Main Results:
- 60% of patients had predisposing factors for candidiasis (diabetes, immunosuppression).
- Candida species were isolated in 72.5% of patients, predominantly Candida albicans.
- Antifungal treatment led to significant pain reduction (80%) and observed regeneration of tongue papillae.
Conclusions:
- Painful atrophic tongue, even mild, has a high probability of being caused by Candida.
- Prolonged disease duration and lack of response to topical steroids suggest a fungal etiology.