Riga-Fede Disease: A Case of Sublingual Trauma Not Associated With Abuse

The following case presents a pediatric patient with Riga-Fede disease (RFD), a rare disorder in children under 2 years of age characterized by sublingual ulceration of the tongue due to trauma from repeated rubbing against the primary teeth. Riga-Fede disease is well reported in dental literature but is relatively unknown to the general pediatric community. It can be confused with nonaccidental trauma (NAT) from forced feeding or other abusive trauma because it presents with injury of oral structures including the sublingual frenulum and often results in problems with growth. This case highlights the importance for physicians to recognize RFD as a source of isolated oral injury that is distinct from NAT. Although approximately 35 cases of RFD have been reported in the literature, this is the first case to describe the process of distinguishing this disease from child abuse.

We present a case of an 8-month-old female infant who presented with extensive injury of her ventral tongue from RFD who underwent a full workup for NAT. We review the literature for guidance on diagnosing RFD and discuss how to distinguish it from abuse.

Infants with characteristic ulceration of the ventral tongue opposing new teeth and with no other medical, social, or developmental concerns do not need to undergo further workup. Clinical examination and thorough history are sufficient to make the diagnosis.

Traumatic intraoral injury in nonmobile children is highly concerning for child abuse. However, RFD is a well described cause of sublingual ulceration in infants that is not associated with abuse.