Riga-Fede Disease in a Child With Neuropsychomotor Impairment: A Case Report

Riga-Fede disease (RFD) is a rare, benign condition marked by traumatic ulceration on the tongue's ventral side in infants. It arises from friction between the tongue and lower incisors during sucking, potentially worsening into a keratinized lesion if the cause is not addressed. This report details the case of a 1-year-6-month-old male with hydrocephalus, cleft palate, corpus callosum dysgenesis, neuropsychomotor developmental delay, and tracheostomy and gastrostomy needs. He presented to the Hospital for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies of Bauru with a persistent tongue lesion. Clinical examination showed a yellowish-white lesion with defined edges, closely associated with teeth 71 and 81. A biopsy under general anesthesia confirmed RFD. Initial treatment involved smoothing the incisors and applying fluoride varnish to reduce sensitivity. Due to the child's repetitive tongue movements, the lesion persisted. Consequently, low-level laser therapy was introduced weekly, leading to substantial improvement. The laser's anti-inflammatory and tissue repair properties demonstrated effectiveness. This case underscores the importance of tailoring treatment to the individual clinical circumstances of each patient.