Burning Mouth Syndrome Following Covid Vaccination: A Case Report

Area of Science:

• Oral Medicine
• Pharmacovigilance
• Immunology

Background:

• Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) is a complex condition characterized by oral burning sensations.
• Adverse drug reactions, including those from vaccines, are increasingly recognized as potential triggers for BMS.
• The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has been associated with various side effects, but BMS is not a commonly reported one.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the first case of Burning Mouth Syndrome following the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination.
• To describe the clinical presentation and diagnostic process for vaccine-induced BMS.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of a specific multimodal treatment approach for this condition.

Main Methods:

• Detailed clinical case reporting of a patient experiencing BMS post-vaccination.
• Diagnostic workup to exclude other potential causes of oral burning.
• Implementation and monitoring of a treatment regimen comprising zinc supplementation, acupuncture, and topical capsaicin.

Main Results:

• The patient developed symptoms consistent with Burning Mouth Syndrome shortly after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
• Standard investigations ruled out other common etiologies for BMS.
• The multimodal treatment regimen resulted in significant symptom relief and resolution of burning sensations.

Conclusions:

• The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine can be a potential, albeit rare, trigger for Burning Mouth Syndrome.
• A combination of zinc supplementation, acupuncture, and topical capsaicin represents an effective therapeutic strategy for managing vaccine-associated BMS.
• Further research is warranted to understand the immunologic mechanisms linking COVID-19 vaccines to BMS and to identify at-risk individuals.