Benign migratory glossitis and allergy.

Over an eighteen month period, 5,466 ch//dren [rom a private pedodontic practice in South Bend, Indiana were examined [or benign migratory glossitis and a//ergies. Diagnosed benign migratory glossitis cases were ~rther analyzed according to sex, race, trod age. Two-way tests o[ independence vsing cbi-sqvare analyses showed a significant relationship between benign migratory glossitis and allergy. Surket said there is a relationship between benign migratory glossitis and allergy.’ This studyis directed at that hypothesis. Benign migratory glossitis has been studied under a host of synonyms: "wandering rash," lingua geographica, geographic tongue, erythema migrans, exfoliatio areata linguae, superficial migratory glossitis, lingual dystrophy, pityriases linguae, transitory benign plaques of the tongue, marginal exfoliative glossitis, and glossitis areata migrans. The frequency of occurrence, according to several investigators varies from 0.28 to 14.4%. 2 Benign migratory glossitis is seen as a tongue lesion characterized by the appearance of red patches, varying in form and extent, surrounded by collar-like hypertrophy of filiform papillae.27 The margins of the lesion are well developed and slightly raised. The involved areas enlarge and migrate by extension of the desquamation of the papillae at one margin of the lesion and regeneration by a yellow, grey, or whitish membranous margin. The patches may be single or multiple, discrete or confluent.’ Less commonly, the lesions are seen on the lateral borders of the tongue and floor of the mouth2 The onset ofthelesion is considered rapid, the persistence chronic, often lasting for several months. As rapidly as they appear, they are likely to regress spontaneously, only to appear at a later date. 5.6.7 While patients seldom experience any symptoms, mild burning, irritation, and discomfort to extremes of hot, cold, or spicy foods have been reported?.6 The condition is self-limiting and is thought to be a recurring harmless change, rather than a disease.’.3.~ To date, therapeutic treatments have been unsuccessful and probably not warranted. The etiology of geographic tongue remains obscure although a number of factors have been suggested. Some authors consider the lesion a congenital anomaly, and others see it as an acute inflammatory reactionY The factor under consideration in this study is allergy. Burket has noted that individuals with an allergic background appear to be more likely to manifest this condition.’ Allergies have been implicated because of a suggested high incidence of migratory glossitis among children with overt allergic manifestations. 8 Methods and Materials The children for this study came from a private pedodontic practice in South Bend, Indiana. The practice, composed of rural and urban children, serves all levels of the socioeconomic scale, as well as Negroes, Caucasians, Hispanics and Oriental races. Over an 18-month period of time 5,466 children were examined in the office. All cases of benign migratory glossitis were confirmed independently by two qualified examiners using good dental lighting. The name, age, sex, race, and presence or absence of reported allergy was recorded. Two way tests of independence using chi-square analysis were performed. The main objective was to determine the relationship between allergy, race, sex and age in patients with benign migratory glossitis in our study population.