Riga-Fede disease in a child

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Dentistry
• Oral Pathology

Background:

• Riga-Fede disease (RFD) is typically associated with infant trauma from natal teeth.
• Similar lesions can occur due to repetitive tongue-thrusting or neurological conditions.

Observation:

• A 6-year-old boy presented with an ulcer on the anterior ventral tongue.
• The lesion was attributed to a repetitive tongue-thrusting habit.

Findings:

• The case demonstrates an unusual presentation of RFD in an older child.
• Complete healing was achieved after removing the traumatic habit and a week of drug therapy.

Implications:

• Highlights the importance of considering tongue-thrusting habits in differential diagnosis of lingual ulcers.
• Suggests conservative management can be effective for RFD in children.
• Broadens the understanding of etiological factors for Riga-Fede disease.