Prevalence of tongue lesions in a population of Iranian schoolchildren in 2020

Abstract

Background: The tongue is one of the most important organs in the oral cavity, and its lesions are a health concern for healthcare providers and patients. Limited epidemiological studies have evaluated tongue lesions in children. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of various lesions on the tongue in a population of Iranian students. Methods: A total of 2051 students, aged 7–12 years, were randomly selected from elementary schools in Kerman using the random cluster sampling method from February 2020 to June 2020 for examination. The subjects’ age, gender, and identified tongue lesions were recorded in datasheets. The data were analyzed with SPSS software using the chi-square test and t test at a significance level of P<0.05. Results: Tongue lesions were identified in 29.9% of the children, and female children were affected at a higher rate than male subjects. The most frequent lesion was coated tongue, affecting 19.3% of the subjects, followed by partial ankyloglossia (3.6%) and fissured tongue (3.1%). The least frequent lesions were bifid tongue and microglossia (0.1% each). No cases of lingual thyroid were identified in the present study. Conclusion: Tongue lesions were identified at a relatively high frequency in children, necessitating general dental practitioners’ knowledge and awareness about the etiology, diagnosis, and management of these lesions.