Glossitis is the infection of the tongue. Due to this the tongue swells and change color. A white border sometimes surrounds them. It is also known as benign migratory glossitis because the appearance is constantly changing. Although geographic tongue is benign (harmless) it may persist for months or longer and often recurs.
Causes
Changes in the appearance of the tongue may be a primary tongue disorder, or it may be a symptom of other disorders. Glossitis occurs when there is acute or chronic inflammation of the tongue. It causes the tongue to swell and change color. Finger-like projections on the surface of the tongue (papillae) are lost, causing the tongue to appear smooth. Also see geographic tongue.
The another causes of glossitis also include :-
Bacterial or viral infections (including oral herpes simplex) Mechanical irritation or injury from burns, rough edges of teeth or dental appliances, or other trauma Exposure to irritants such as tobacco, alcohol, hot foods, or spices Allergic reaction to toothpaste, mouthwash, breath fresheners, dyes in candy, plastic in dentures or retainers, or certain blood-pressure medications (ACE inhibitors) Disorders such as iron deficiency anemia, pernicious anemia and other B-vitamin deficiencies, oral lichen planus, erythema multiform, aphthous ulcers, pemphigus vulgaris, syphilis, and others.
Symptoms
Often there are no symptoms but burning or irritation of the tongue is common, particularly with hot or spicy foods. The discomfort may come and go over time and may worsen at certain times of a women's menstrual cycle or during pregnancy. Symptoms of glossitis vary widely. These are :-
Simple redness of the tip and edges of the tongue (if the cause is pellagra, anemia, or irritation from smoking or a tooth with a rough surface) Painful ulcers Whitish patches. The entire tongue may be fiery red, swollen In iron-deficiency and pernicious anemia, the tongue is pale and smooth. Painful ulcers on the tongue may indicate a number of diseases, including herpes, tuberculosis, and streptococcal infection.
Treatment
The treatment of glossitis depends on the cause. Antibiotics are used for the treatment of bacterial infections. For a nutritional deficiency, supplementation with vitamins or iron is the treatment. The swelling and discomfort is treated with various over-the-counter and prescription drugs that are used locally. Mouth rinses with a half teaspoon of baking soda and 8 oz of warm water can provide relief. If the swelling is severe, corticosteriods taken by mouth may be necessary. Discomfort may be treated with a mouth gargle or rinse containing antiseptic and anaesthetic agents. Topical corticosteroids may also be helpful for occasional use eg. triamcinolone in dental paste applied several times a day when required.
Tension headaches are probably the most common type. They are usually caused by tension in the muscles in the neck, shoulders and face. Migraines are considered more debilitating and affect more women compared to men, with 13% of women suffering migraines as compared to 6% of men. Such headaches are commonly more intense and might linger for longer periods of time compared to tension headaches. Cluster headaches are also quite severe, and sometimes last for as much as several weeks.
Tension headaches are increasing common and almost everybody has had one some time or other. They usually only last for a short period of time, and are characterized by pain around the eyes and temples. The area of discomfort is in part due to the muscle that is feeling the strain. Although it is usually in the above areas, the pain can appear anywhere above the neck.
Watery eyes and runny nose are often symptoms that accompany a tension headache. Having reddish eyes can mean that the pain is slowly moving from the temple downwards. Tension headaches are different from common headaches as they might not trigger off noise and photo-sensitivity. This is more common to migraine headaches.
Anyone who has ever suffered from a migraine knows that they are totally unrelated to tension headaches. To a large extent, hereditary genes are responsible for the onset of this sort of headache and other factors are still not clearly documented. There are relatively useful treatments for migraines but in most cases, migraine sufferers would have to deal with it for the rest of their lives.
Migraines are characterized by intense, throbbing pain around the eyes and temples. It is common for the pain to trouble one side before migrating to the other temple. The pain can be so debilitating that it seems to affect other areas of the head as well. Migraines can also be triggered by the eyes having blood vessels that have become inflammed.
Secondary headaches are severe headaches that are associated with some already existing medical condition. Headaches can be caused by a tumor in the brain as well.
There are other types of signs that are linked to the onset of migraines. Extreme sensitivity to sound and light are common. Such kinds of discomfort can last from any time between a few hours or even up to a week. Fatigue, sleepiness, and cravings for sweets are common warning signs that a migraine is about to begin.
The pain is sometimes so intense that it is accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Being photosensitive as well as sensitive to noise, having clammy palms and feet or diarrhea are usual signs. Such headaches can be triggered off by harmless activities such as climbing the stairs.
Cluster headaches tend to have a patten of discomfort. The duration of the episode is not long, but the episodes return without fail on a daily basis. It is not unheard of for this cycle to go on for as long as a month or even longer. Once this period passes, the headaches might even disappear for months on end before it returns. This pattern is what separates cluster headaches from migraines. The type and severity of the pain is similar in both cases.
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