Diagnosis and treatment of glossitis in children

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted Master, Doctor Phan Ngoc Hai - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital. Dr. Hai used to work at the Neonatology Department of Da Nang Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital and Hoan My Da Nang Hospital. His strength is in general pediatric examination and treatment, neonatal examination and treatment, pediatric resuscitation.
Glossitis is a benign inflammation of the tongue that usually begins in infancy, manifesting as symptoms such as red and white patches on the tongue, resembling a map.

1. Overview of map glossitis in children

Geographic glossitis in children is a benign disorder affecting the surface of the tongue. The tongue is usually covered with tiny, pinkish-white papillae; are usually short, smooth, and look like hair. In glossitis, the surface marks on the tongue are absent and are a red, wrinkled space, often bordered. These lesions give the tongue a map-like appearance, often healing in one area and then spreading to another part of the tongue. The disease is also known as benign migratory glossitis.
Although the map tongue may look like a warning sign, it does not cause health problems and is not associated with infection or cancer. It can cause discomfort and increased sensitivity to certain substances. Glossitis usually begins in childhood and lasts a lifetime.

2. Causes of disease

The cause of map tongue is currently unknown so there is no way to prevent it. There is an association between map tongue and psoriasis, and people with psoriasis often develop glossitis.

3. How is the disease diagnosed?

Glossitis is diagnosed mainly based on clinical signs, in addition, it is necessary to do a number of paraclinical tests to help differentiate it from some diseases.
Clinical signs include:
Irregular, flat, red spots on the tip or edge of the tongue Lesions frequently change in location, size and shape. In addition, about 40% of patients have an accompanying cracked tongue. Cracked tongue is a condition in which deep grooves appear on the surface of the tongue. Map blades can last for months to years. It usually goes away on its own but can reappear later. Discomfort, pain or burning sensation in some cases but is usually related to eating foods that are spicy, hot, salty or sour. However, most cases do not feel pain or discomfort, do not affect taste, so children do not have any trouble eating. Examination: lesions are well-demarcated, white rim in the red center and bare papillae on the tongue surface. This white ridge moves sometimes near the tip of the tongue, sometimes at the back of the tongue. Irregular shape like a map. Subclinical : Mainly do some tests to rule out other causes such as fungal
Mycoscopy : To rule out candida infection .

4. How to treat glossitis

The disease does not have a specific treatment method, in case the child eats normally, without pain, without causing any discomfort, there is no need for treatment, just pay attention to eating habits and oral hygiene such as: Clean the mouth with physiological saline to prevent superinfection. Pay attention to dental diseases, regularly get tartar every 6 months. Therefore, you should prepare hot, stimulating, and spicy foods to avoid contact with alcohol. For children who have symptoms of discomfort, pain or itching, in addition to applying the above methods, you can use some drugs to treat symptoms. such as:
If the child has pain when eating: Use topical pain relievers. Mouthwashes that contain anesthetics or antihistamines. Topical anti-inflammatory, pain reliever. Eat more fruits, drink smoothies, eat cold liquids to help your baby relieve pain and heal wounds quickly. Glossitis in children is a benign, relapsing condition with no definitive treatment. When detecting that a child has symptoms similar to glossitis, it is advisable to take the child to the doctor to accurately determine the disease, rule out other diseases and be treated if the disease causes discomfort, causing the child to stop eating. At any stage, it is very easy to get map glossitis. The pediatric department at Vinmec International General Hospital is the address for receiving and examining diseases that infants and young children are susceptible to: viral fever, bacterial fever, otitis media, pneumonia in children. , glossitis map.. With a system of facilities, modern medical equipment, sterile space, minimizing the impact as well as the risk of disease spread, Vinmec will bring satisfaction to customers. Customers and experts in the industry are highly appreciated by:
Gathering a team of leading pediatricians: including leading experts, with high professional qualifications (professors, associate professors, doctorate, master), rich experience, worked in big hospitals like Bach Mai, 108.. The doctors are all well-trained, professional, have a heart - reach, understand young psychology. In addition to domestic pediatric specialists, the Department of Pediatrics also has the participation of foreign experts (Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA) who are always pioneers in applying the latest and most effective treatment regimens. . Comprehensive services: In the field of Pediatrics, Vinmec provides a series of continuous medical examination and treatment services from Newborn to Pediatric and Vaccine,... according to international standards to help parents take care of their baby's health from birth to childhood. Advanced techniques: Vinmec has successfully deployed many specialized techniques to make the treatment of difficult diseases in pediatrics more effective: neurosurgery - skull, stem cell transplant blood in cancer treatment. Professional care: In addition to understanding children's psychology, Vinmec also pays special attention to the children's play space, helping them to play comfortably and get used to the hospital's environment, cooperate in treatment, improve the efficiency of medical treatment.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.