Types of glossitis and features of their treatment

Glossitis is any painful change in the surface of a tongue. For example, if the inflammation of the tongue is due to a cut by a fishbone or because of a serious illness. Usually, the disease develops as an additional symptom of some general pathology.

In general, the disease affects the male. The types of this disease depend on the degree of damage and the place of inflammation of the tongue. Inflammatory glossitis can affect tissues deeply or superficially. The disease is also classified into non-inflammatory types.

Signs of the development of glossitis

If a person develops glossitis, he feels the soreness of the tongue during conversation, during meals, at touch. In addition, the tongue changes its hue, turns red, swells and lacks moisture. In the formation of erosions and ulcers, unpleasant and painful sensations are markedly enhanced. Symptomatic glossitis depends on the cause, which affected its occurrence.

So, the superficial forms of the disease are catarrhal inflammatory processes on the mucosa of the tongue, arising as manifestations of stomatitis. The tongue acquires a bright red color, swells, hurts, thickens and becomes covered with plaque. The patient feels burning and loses the sense of taste. All these signs are accompanied by strong salivation.

Deep forms of this disease manifest abscess or phlegmon, can spread even to the bottom of the mouth and provoke an inflammatory process in the zone of the chin and neck.

Non-inflammatory forms of glossitis

Non-inflammatory varieties of this pathology include the following:

• desquamative;
• diamond-shaped, hairy black;
• folded.

Each type of pathology listed has its own distinctive features.

In case of damage to the rhomboid glossitis, the epithelium is compacted, and on the back of the tongue a pronounced cyanotic-red patch of rhomboid shape is formed. Such a sign appears and disappears from time to time, therefore the form of glossitis is considered chronic. When you feel the affected area, there is no pain, and the severity of the manifestations depends on the neglect of the process. In the absence of the necessary treatment, the tongue exhibits whitish growths with flat tops and wide at the base.

In case of defeat with desquamative glossitis, in another way - the migrating, focal epithelium of red color on the lateral surfaces and on the back of the tongue begins to deteriorate. And after two to three days the epithelial layer is restored. The process of destruction and subsequent recovery can be prolonged for a long time, in connection with which, the shell of the language resembles a geographical map. Burning and pain are also noted during meals.

Folded form of glossitis is considered an innate pathology and makes itself felt through the formation of transverse and longitudinal folds, differing in depth. Usually the deepest is formed on the median line along the entire tongue from the root to the tip.

Hairy black glossitis is manifested by the growth and subsequent horny papillae in the tongue, which in appearance look like hairs of a dark shade. As a rule, outgrowths form on the back of the tongue, and their height can reach 1 to 2 cm. Patients complain of constant urge to vomit and feeling of cotton wool in their mouth.

Inflammatory forms of glossitis

Inflammatory glossitis forms are usually formed in humans as a concomitant pathology to the underlying disease. These include the following:

• Allergic glossitis - occurs with hypovitaminosis, and its signs depend on what vitamin or nutrient is not enough in the human body.for example, with a lack of vitamin A, the dryness of the tongue mucosa, pain and the formation of cracks on it are noted. With a deficiency of folic acid and vitamin B12, the epithelium is depleted, the tongue acquires a bright shade, becomes lacquered and hurts when exposed to irritating factors - this kind of disease is called Hunter's glossitis. Usually it occurs as a concomitant pathology in anemia.
• Medical glossitis develops as an inflammation reaction to the prolonged use of certain medications, mainly antibiotics, salicylates, and the like. It appears on the 4th - 7th day from the beginning of taking medications, while the tongue develops puffiness, redness, its surface becomes shiny and smooth. General signs of hypersensitivity reactions may appear.
• Interstitial glossitis develops with syphilis in the Tertiary period. The tongue becomes denser and becomes inactive.
• Mycotic glossitis is also not considered an independent pathology, as it develops after the defeat of fungal infections of ENT organs. Usually this form of the disease accompanies tonsillitis or chronic forms of fungal pharyngitis. The main distinguishing feature of this defeat is a strong tumor of the tongue, the formation of whitish spots on it against the background of smooth areas of red color. For successful treatment of the mycotic form, it is necessary first of all to get rid of the primary pathology.
• Candida glossitis occurs when a fungus of the genus Candida hits the mucous surface. In another way, this type of disease is called yeast glossitis and is an indicator of the poor performance of immunity and the presence of fungal infection in the human body. Chronic forms are characterized by exacerbations during impairment of immunity - usually due to respiratory seasonal and other infectious pathologies. Most often candidal glossitis are affected by children and people after prolonged antibiotic treatment.
• Catarrhal is a process of inflammation, which often accompanies stomatitis, as it is caused by contact with destroyed teeth, tartar or prosthesis. Causes of development may include chemical, thermal burns, injuries or poisoning, as well as a reaction to alcohol consumption and nicotine gum cigarettes. Treatment involves removing the cause that triggered the disease. In the absence of necessary treatment, the catarrhal form passes into aphthous glossitis, when shallow ulcers and aphthae form on the upper layer of the tongue. When the process starts, the tongue begins to swell, and the ulcers bleed - so the stage of the erosive-ulcerative glossitis begins. Pathology is accompanied by a gray coating on the tongue and an unpleasant odor from the mouth.
• Atrophic differs from other varieties in its manifestations, namely, reduction to the complete smoothing of the papillae of the tongue surface due to the effects of infection, partial atrophy of the muscles of the tongue, provoking a decrease in its size. Treatment involves eliminating the underlying infection and replenishing the deficiency of vitamins A and E in the body.
• Phlegmonous affects the entire surface of the tongue, and can also extend to the chin, the lower part of the oral cavity and the neck. The main symptom of this type of pathology is the appearance of abscesses and phlegmon, severe deterioration of general health, an increase in body temperature, severe headaches, swelling and pain in the tongue, and difficulty in breathing. Treatment should begin with the first symptoms. Suppurative growths are removed through surgical intervention and administration of antibacterial drugs.

All varieties of the disease can be divided into acute and chronic glossitis. Chronic form is formed when improper treatment of the underlying pathology or due to the preservation of the traumatic factor, as well as due to poor immunity.

Causes of occurrence of glossitis

Glossitis can develop independently due to careless traumatization of the tongue by a destroyed tooth, denture, due to the influence of boiling water, a chemical stimulus, etc. Glossitis can also occur if the basic rules of oral hygiene are not observed, when you abuse cigarettes, alcoholic beverages, as an allergy to toothpaste or mouthwash. In addition, the causes of the disease often become microorganisms - herpes viruses, streptococci, staphylococci, etc.

Often glossitis is formed as an additional disease in the defeat of the gastrointestinal tract, blood diseases, infectious pathologies. Language takes an active part in all pathological processes occurring in the oral cavity - hypersensitivity reactions, stomatitis, lichen and many others.

Diagnosis and treatment of glossitis

Glossitis is distinguished by its bright clinical signs, so doctors can easily put a correct diagnosis already in the process of visual inspection of the patient. To identify the nature of the pathology and depth of damage, as well as the causes of the disease, bacteriological, histological, biochemical, serological and cytological studies are organized.

First of all, the treatment process involves correction of the main pathologies that led to the development of glossitis: anemia, gastrointestinal tract diseases, syphilis, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, diabetic glomerulosclerosis, etc.

In order to reduce pain, the patient is recommended to eat liquid cereal, mashed soups and a variety of purees.

Necrotic plaque in the tongue is removed with cotton swabs pre-moistened with proteolytic enzymes. After the procedure, the oral cavity is required to rinse with antiseptics to prevent secondary damage or the development of glossitis complications. With effective elimination of the underlying pathology and causes of the disease, glossitis is well treatable and does not cause adverse effects.