Glossitis (redirected from glossitis areata exfoliativa)

glossitis [glä′sīd·əs]

(medicine)

Inflammation of the tongue.

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Glossitis 

inflammation of the tongue. Glossitis may arise as a result of local trauma of the tongue (traumatic glossitis), decrease in local reactivity of the tissues in connection with infectious factors (candidomycotic glossitis), or changes in the general reactivity of the body caused by avitaminoses, malnutrition, and so forth. It frequently appears as a symptom of many diseases of internal organs, a number of which may be diagnosed by typical changes in the mucous membrane of the tongue. Thus, scarlatinal glossitis and dry, wrinkled tongue are well known in diseases of the intestinal tract, and a smooth, atrophic tongue often accompanies blood diseases. Rarely, glossitis develops as a complication after taking certain medications. The disease is found in persons of all ages. Glossitis is sometimes discovered by chance, but it may begin acutely and proceed with all the symptoms of inflammation. Treatment involves removal of the causes of the disease, care of the mouth cavity, Novocain blocks, and vitamin therapy.

REFERENCE

Lukomskii, I. G. Terapevticheskaia stomatologiia. Moscow, 1960. Pages 429-31.

V. N. ISAEV