What is “Burning Mouth” Syndrome?
Many people are affected by a syndrome known as “Burning Mouth”. The syndrome causes a burning sensation in the mouth that can affect the tongue, lips, gums, throat and palate. Sometimes the sensation is noted as a tingling or scalded sensation. It can also cause dry mouth or an altered or metallic taste in the mouth. The pain can start suddenly, and last for months or even years, causing constant pain every day.
When patients seek medical help for this condition, their doctor often cannot find a cause. There is no specific test that doctors routinely use to diagnose this condition.
There was a recent case in the news where a healthy 65 year old woman had burning mouth syndrome and reported her symptoms to her doctor and dentist, who were both
…show more content…
Once she began treatment with an anti-viral, her symptoms finally subsided and she has not had a recurrence of burning mouth.
What you can do about burning mouth syndrome
This case reveals how many people are infected with the herpes simplex virus without knowing it, and how it can affect you in unusual ways. If the patient had been aware she was infected, if she had had a prior outbreak, perhaps the doctors may have been able to resolve her condition much sooner. But herpes simplex can be a “silent” virus, invading your body with no symptoms until low immunity, hormonal changes or stress activate the virus and cause symptoms. Unfortunately, doctors do not think to test for the herpes virus for this syndrome unless the patient has an active outbreak or history of herpes.
The facial nerves that the herpes simplex virus affects can cause many different symptoms, and as proven by this case, you can have herpes activate, even the first time, in an unusual manner such as burning mouth, instead of the typical cold sores.
If you suffer from burning mouth syndrome, an anti-viral may give you the relief you
Mr. MacPherson presented to the emergency department with bilateral burns to his arms, hands, as well as his face following a kitchen grease fire. The patient complained of severe pain in the affected areas. Upon examination, his burns were blistered and edematous. In addition, erythema and fluid loss were present.
The situation is most often as a result of burning the tongue on warm meals. It can be because of consuming spicy food, irritation from dentures, excessive alcohol and tobacco intake. Pipe smoking reasons glossitis and is associated cancer of the tongue.
and ears, and in the mouth and pharynx. The causative virus has been shown to be
The etiology of burning mouth syndrome is varied and often difficult to decipher clinically. The following factors have been cited as having possible etiologic significance:
According to Medline Plus, the herpes simplex virus, also known as HSV, causes the infection known as Herpes. There are two types of HSV; there is Oral herpes that causes cold sores around the mouth or face and Oral herpes, or HSV 1, usually causes cold sores, however it is quite easy to transmit this disease to the genital area and can cause genital herpes. There is also HSV 2 and that is the usual cause of genital herpes, and like HSV 1, HSV 2 can infect the mouth. HSV 2 is also known as genital herpes and can affects the anal, buttocks or genital areas. This is a sexually transmitted disease, however there are other herpes infections that can affect the eyes, skin, or other parts of the body. Herpes can be dangerous in newborn babies or in individuals with weak immune systems.
Herpes Simplex is a common virus that causes infection in humans. This virus is spread in both humans and animals. However, humans are the primary reservoirs for HSV and are the only ones that experience any symptoms. There are two types of Herpes Simplex known as HSV-1 and HSV-2. HSV-1 primarily causes oral herpes while HSV-2 causes genital herpes.1 This virus is easily contracted and often during one’s childhood. Unfortunately, this virus is latent and reoccurs every so often, more so during times of stress. Herpes Simplex is a mild infection for most, however, this virus can lead to many serious complications.
Young adolescents do not understand that genital herpes is highly contagious and can be passed without them knowing. There are two types of herpes viruses: “type-1 which usually causes cold sores on the lips and mouth, and type-2 which usually causes genital herpes (Wee 2).
This was patient A.C.’s first pregnancy. She is 19-years-old and currently G1P1[T1; PT0; A(S)0; A(T)0; L1]. In addition, she tested positive for Herpes Simplex Virus type 2 (HSV-2); however, at the time of delivery there were not any current breakouts. HSV is defined as an infection that has an affinity for the skin and nervous system and usually results in small, temporary, irritating, and painful fluid-filled blisters on the skin and mucous membranes (Lowdermilk, Perry, Cashion, Alden, & Olshansky, 2016). Particularly HSV-2 infections are usually restricted to the genital area. In addition, HSV-2 is most often transmitted during sexual contact and skin to skin contact while the virus is actively shedding. Signs and symptoms of the initial HSV-2 infection can include fever, itching, chills, painful lesions, fatigue, and dysuria that can last up to three weeks (Lowdermilk et al.,
Over time as individuals age and are faced with access to care issues they may begin to neglect their oral health. As time passes between dental hygiene cleanings or dentist visits the presence of oral disease may begin to increase.
Bell’s palsy is a paralysis or weakness of the muscles on one side of your face. It results from damage to the nerve that controls movement of the muscles in the face, the damage may also affect your sense of taste and how you make tears and saliva. This condition can come on, often overnight and usually gets better on its own within a few weeks. This is not a result of a stroke or transient ischemic attack. This is referred to as a (TIA). Palsy simply means weakness or paralysis,
(NCIRD, 2016). They may need to take antiviral medications. (Anonymous, 2016). Varicella-Zoster Immune Globulin is given to weaken immune system patients and newborns after exposure to Chickenpox. (Alan, 2013). Complications of this disease include bacterial infections of the skin and soft tissues (Streptococcal infections), Pneumonia, Encephalitis, and Sepsis. (NCIRD, 2016) Aspirin cannot be used to treat Chickenpox, both combined can cause Reye’s Syndrome. This syndrome affects the blood, brain and liver of a patient who just recently had a viral disease. (Anonymous, 2016). When treating someone with Chickenpox, the healthcare team must be immune to this virus. (NCIRD,
Burns are caused by many different factors. Heat burns are caused by fire, steam, hot objects, electricity, ultraviolet rays and hot liquids (Living With Burn Trauma). According to “Prevention,” an online article, the “Leading causes of fire and burn death and injury for older adults are smoking, cooking, scalds, electrical, and heating.” When one is burned, a instinct called “fight or flight” catalyzes. “Fight or Flight” causes one’s breathing and pulse to increase. When this happens, their adrenal glands release a hormone that causes pain to diminish causing some to vaguely remember their accident (Living With Burn Trauma). Many times because a victim begins to breathe rapidly, they can experience respiratory complications from the burns often resulting in respiratory failure (“First Aid and Emergencies”).
However, on the a recent visit dated 23/12/13 the patient’s gingival condition had deteriorated, presenting with an increased plaque scores of 34% and bleeding scores to 63%. Intra oral examination also showed generalised oedema and erythema throughout in the mouth in response to this increase in plaque bacteria. The presence of supra-gingival calculus on lower anterior teeth and both sites of upper buccal molars and the patients BPE now reads 212 /121, putting the patients caries risk at a ‘High’ status.
Using clove oil is provides a fast relieve to toothache because of the antioxidants and antibacterial properties it possesses. Clove oil have been used for many years for the treatment of toothaches. It also contains eugenol, an anesthetic which is an effective pain killer. It is mostly used in dental products. In a situation where a dentist can be
Chicken pox is not an Entrée that is served at one’s family holiday dinner party. Chicken pox is an extremely contagious disease caused by the Varicella zoster virus. Chicken Pox is not a disease that is known to affect other animals or insects. Unlike other diseases, where human and other animal close interaction causes the exchange of virus and disease this disease did not come from a human-chicken interaction. The name chicken pox has been stuck for generations; there are many theories behind its name. Chicken pox could sneak up on its young victims in the form of an innocent touch, or by inhaling tiny particles from a cough, or sneeze which then enters the respiratory tract. Once the virus attaches itself to it gracious, and unwilling host cells it causes a crimson rash that could be located on different parts of the body. The rash is highly irritating which makes it almost impossible not scratch. In the United States each year about 5,000 to 9,000 people are hospitalized, and around 100 people die from the microbe Varicella zoster that causes chicken pox.