Glossitis in pregnancy: causes, manifestations and treatment
Glossitis is an inflammation on the tissues of the tongue, which can be superficial or penetrate deeply into the mucosa. Most often glossitis accompanies some pathology, but it can also develop independently. If this condition develops on its own - then this is the primary form, and if as a complication or symptom of other pathologies - a secondary form.
Glossitis in pregnancy occurs because of the hormonal changes that occur in the female body.
Pregnancy is a condition when a woman's body needs a lot of vitamins and trace elements, and insufficient intake of such substances adversely affects the health status and can trigger the development of various pathologies, including glossitis.
The most frequent types of glossitis affecting pregnant women are:
- Desquamative form - the formation of a "geographical language" with the presence of regions of the cornified epithelial layer of white color.
- Hunter's form - correlates with inadequate intake of vitamins B and B in the body. In this case, the tongue takes a bright crimson hue.
Causes of the development of the pathology of
In the process of bearing a child, a physiological decrease in the activity of the immunity occurs in order to prevent damage to the fetus by antibodies. Simultaneously, the woman becomes more susceptible to infection by infections - viruses, bacteria or fungi.
High body requirement of a pregnant woman in vitamins in the absence of a balanced diet can trigger the development of vitamin deficiency, lack of vitamin B 12 and concomitant pathology - glossitis.
Also to the development of glossitis are exacerbations of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, damage to the mucous membrane of the tongue due to frequent vomiting during pregnancy.
Symptoms of the pathology
The main symptoms of glossitis development in pregnant women are:
Plentiful salivation - this sign may indicate the appearance of glossitis, but it can also be an independent manifestation of pregnancy.
Pain sensations, burning tongue, the strength of which depends on the depth of damage.
Changing the shade of the tongue - Desquamative form in pregnant women is shown by the alternation of pale and bright red spots on the surface of the tongue. With a lack of vitamin B 12, glossitis is manifested by the formation of a "lacquered tongue".Infectious glossitis provokes uniform reddening of individual zones or completely of the tongue and its swelling.
Treatment of pathology
Treatment of this disease in pregnant women is based on classical medicine, that is, the main principle of therapy is the absence of harm to the body. In this regard, the selection of effective and at the same time the most safe drugs is required.
As a rule, topical preparations are used - lozenges and tablets for resorption, as well as solutions for rinsing the oral cavity.
When the cause of the development of the inflammation process is the lack of vitamins, then it is necessary to correct the diet of a pregnant woman. In addition, the doctor additionally recommends taking appropriate vitamin preparations.
In case of symptoms of glossitis of an allergic nature, it is necessary to eliminate the allergen as soon as possible. If the allergen is one of the foods, then it is important to completely eliminate it from your diet. When developing allergies to wool from animals, you should limit contact with them.
If there is an acute form of glossitis, which is characterized by severe pain, it is important to observe a special diet that involves limiting the consumption of acute and other irritating mucous surfaces of the food tongue.
In any case, treatment must be agreed with the doctor who is monitoring the pregnant woman. Timely organized diagnostics and quality treatment of glossitis in women bearing a baby, makes it possible to prevent complications and maintain the normal course of the pregnancy process.