Loss Of Taste Sensation Research Articles

Ramsay Hunt syndrome

A 66-year-old man presented with complete right facial paralysis (figure 1). Three days before, he had experienced a burning sensation in the right ear and developed oral lesions. On examination,...

Oro-facial Herpes Zoster Affecting V2 and V3 Division of Trigeminal Nerve: An Unusual Case Report

The reactivation of the Varicella Zoster virus (VZV) is called as Herpes Zoster (HZ) or shingles. Most commonly involved nerves are C3, T5, L1, L2 and first division of trigeminal nerve. This condition is characterized by multiple, painful, unilateral vesicles and ulcerations which show a typical single dermatome involvement. Herein, we are presenting a case of herpes zoster involving the V2 and V3 divisions of trigeminal nerve, showing unilateral vesicles over the left side of face, as well as an unusual presentation of involvement of the pre-auricular region and external ear. Intra-oral involvement of buccal mucosa, buccal vestibule, retromolar region, labial mucosa and the hard palate of the left side were evident; as also, loss of taste sensation in the anterior 1/3 rd of tongue.

Scleroderma in Dentistry

In this review the effects of scleroderma in the mouth of the patient is foccused. Scleroderma, also known as systemic sclerosis, is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease characterized by hardening of the skin. This is due to extensive deposition of collagen in the tissues. There are various types of scleroderma. Scleroderma affects the internal organs such as the heart, lung and the kidney. All the oral tissues are affected. These oral problems include xerostomia, which is reduced salivary secretion due to fibrosis of the salivary gland and microstomia, a condition in which patients have a limited mouth opening are the most common problems faced by scleroderma patients. This can lead to dysgeusia, a condition in which there is a loss of taste sensation of the mouth which ultimately leads to weight loss due to reduced appetite. Intraorally, dental decay, gingivitis, poor ora l hygiene, thickening of the periodontal ligament and difficulty in retention of dentures are some of the oral problems of this auto immune disorder. These problems can significantly reduce the quality of life of the scleroderma patients. Due to the various oral manifestations of this disease, it is important for the scleroderma patients to maintain good oral hygiene. Some simple treatment measures can be adopted by dentists while treating the scleroderma patients. Since dentists may be the first people to encounter this disorder in their patients due to various oral manifestations of this multifaceted disorder, dentists need to be able to identify these patients accurately as scleroderma patients. Appropriate measures and treatment protocols should be adopted for the safe, comfortable and successful treatment of these patients.

Lichen Planus Associated With Chronic Hepatitis C: Difficult Diagnosis And Management of a Case

Man, 61, came to the Universidade Vale do Rio Verde complaining of “pain in the tongue.” The patient had chronic hepatitis C and also reported difficulty in speaking and feeding and loss of taste sensation. Intraoral examination noted ulceration in almost all tongue areas and extreme symptoms associated with white plaques, which developed over 2 years. The clinical findings and medical history yielded primary diagnostic hypothesis of erosive lichen planus associated with secondary Candida infection. The patient was initially prescribed topical Nystatin; after 7 days an incisional biopsy was performed. Because the symptoms grew worse, dexamethasone was prescribed. The histopathological examination revealed an inflammatory process but did not yield a definitive diagnosis. The patient was prescribed systemic and topical dexamethasone and a new biopsy was performed. He is now being followed in our service. (Support: CNPq; Fapemig).

Sinusitis

Sinusitis as defined by the American Academy of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery as ‘an acute or chronic inflammatory response involving the mucous membrane of the nose and paranasal sinuses and fluid within the cavities and/or underlying bone’. Affecting approximately 15% of the population, it can cause significant morbidity (including depression, disturbed sleep, hypo/anosmia and associated loss of taste sensation) and presents commonly in general practice. This article aims to explore the causes of sinusitis and how to identify and manage it and its complications.

Incidence of Taste Disorder and Umami Taste Disorder among the Japanese Elderly and Youth

The incidence of taste disorder has increased among both the elderly and the young in Japan. The loss of taste sensation not only affects the quality of life, but can also cause weight loss and health problems, particularly among the elderly. Taste disorder among the elderly has been attributed to side effects of medication, malnutrition (including zinc deficiency), systemic diseases, and oral diseases. We found that salivation was significantly decreased in elderly patients with taste disorder, but was normal in all elderly subjects with normal taste perception thresholds. This suggests that hyposalivation is closely related to taste disorder among the elderly. However, the cause of taste disorder among the young is unclear. In addition, we found that some elderly patients complained of loss of only umami taste sensation, whereas the other four basic taste sensations (sweet, salty, sour, bitter) were normal. Patients with loss of umami taste sensation were all over 65 years old, and they all complained of appetite and weight loss, resulting in poor general health. In this article, we surveyed the prevalence of taste disorder in Japan and discussed the causes of taste disorder.

Oral and peri-oral signs and symptoms of herbal dentifrices in patients in two oral medicine clinics in Lagos—A preliminary study

Background: Herbal dentifrices appear to have become an attractive alternative for some consumers and its use has gained appreciable acceptance in Nigeria. This could be partly due to the perception that herbal toothpastes like other herbal products are “natural”, devoid of chemicals and therefore superior to regular toothpastes. Aggressive advertisement of the products may also contribute to this new trend. Mucosal symptoms such as glossitis and intolerance to spicy foods seen in patients attending the oral diagnosis clinic are usually associated with anaemia and nutritional deficiency states. The disturbing trend of an increasing number of patients presenting with such oral mucosal symptoms associated with the use of herbal dentifrices prompted this study. This trend was observed in two isolated oral medicine clinics. Objective: To sensitize oral health, allied professionals and consumers on the possible adverse effects of regular use of some herbal dentifrices sold in Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Routine patients of two oral medicine clinics in Lagos, namely the Randle General Hospital and the Lagos University Teaching Hospital who complained of some adverse mucosal signs and symptoms following the regular use of two identified herbal toothpastes made up the study population. The study was conducted between April 2010-April 2011. A detailed history and examination was carried out on these patients and clinical photographs of oral signs observed was taken in consenting patients. Data analysis was done using the Epi-info 6 software. P values ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant and data was presented in table format. Results: A total of 45 patients, 9 (20%) males and 36 (80%) fe-males were seen. The age range of patients was 14 - 78 years; mean age 45.5 ± 14.9 years. The duration of use of herbal dentifrices ranged from 2 weeks - 84 months (mean 24 ± 11.5 months). Oral signs and symptoms seen include, burning mouth and peppery sensation, mucosal erythema, lichenoid reaction, xerostomia, loss of taste sensation, angio-oedema and oral and peri-oral pigmentation. In many patients, resolution of symptoms was progressive within 2 weeks of withdrawal of the herbal toothpaste and its replacement with a conventional fluoride toothpaste. Most of the patients however required further treatment. A statistically significant association was found between the use of the identified herbal dentifrices and the following mucosal signs and symptoms namely, burning mouth and peppery sensation ,loss of taste sensation, soreness, erythema and lichenoid straie (p value ≤ 0.05). There was no statistically significant association between the use of herbal toothpaste and mucosal signs and symptoms of xerostomia, angular cheilitis, mucosal itching, angio-oedema and numbness (p value > 0.0.5) Conclusion: The regular use of the herbal dentifrices identified in this study can result in oral signs and symptoms affecting taste , nutrition, aesthetics and general oral physiology in some consumers. These findings suggest that further long term clinical trials need to be conducted on the herbal dentifrices to identify the noxious agents causing these symptoms. The formulation and use of these dentifrices need to be standardized and regulated. There is also a need to formulate a treatment protocol for these patients.

Unilateral Facial Paralysis Caused by Ramsay Hunt Syndrome

The Ramsay Hunt syndrome is a rare disease caused by an infection of the geniculate ganglion by the varicella-zoster virus. The main clinical features of the syndrome are as follows: Bell palsy unilateral or bilateral, vesicular eruptions on the ears, ear pain, dizziness, preauricular swelling, tingling, tearing, loss of taste sensation, and nystagmus. We describe a 23-year-old white woman, who presented with facial paralysis on the left side of the face, pain, fever, ear pain, and swelling in the neck and auricular region on the left side. She received appropriate treatment with acyclovir, vitamin B complex, and CMP nucleus. After 30 days after presentation, the patient did not show any signs or symptoms of the syndrome. At follow-up at 1 year, she showed no relapse of the syndrome.

Alteration of Ca2+‐ATPase activity in the homogenate, plasma membrane and microsomes of the salivary glands of streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats

Diabetes has been implicated in the dryness of the mouth, loss of taste sensation, sialosis, and other disorders of the oral cavity, by impairment of the salivary glands. The aim of the present study was to examine the plasma membrane, microsomal, and homogenate Ca(2+)-ATPase activity in the rat submandibular and parotid salivary glands of streptozotocin-induced diabetes. We have also examined the influence of the acidosis state on this parameter. Diabetes was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin and acidosis was induced by daily injection of NH(4)Cl. At 15 and 30 days after diabetes induction, the animals were euthanized and the submandibular and parotid salivary glands were removed and analyzed. Ca(2+)-ATPase (total, independent, and dependent) was determined in the homogenate, microsomal, and plasma membranes of the salivary glands of diabetic and control rats. Calcium concentration was also determined in the glands and showed to be higher in the diabetic animals. Ca(2+)-ATPase activity was found to be reduced in all cell fractions studied in the diabetic animals compared with control. Similar results were obtained for the submandibular salivary glands of acidotic animals; however in the parotid salivary glands it was found an increase in the enzyme activity.

Non-classical presentation of congenital cholesteatoma

Congenital cholesteatoma is a rare entity. It arises from aberrant epithelial remnants left at the time of closure of the neural groove, between the 3rd and 5th week of embryonic life. Otoscopy typically shows a pearly white mass, medial to the intact tympanic membrane, primarily in the anterosuperior quadrant, without a preceding history of otorrhoea, tympanic membrane perforation or surgery. It can present at any age from birth to early adulthood. The most common presenting symptom is hearing loss or facial nerve palsy. We present a non-classical presentation of congenital cholesteatoma with loss of taste sensation and numbness on the anterior two-thirds of the tongue associated with a bulging posterosuperior quadrant of the ipsilateral tympanic membrane in a 52-year-old male. After investigation, the patient underwent surgical management resulting in improvement of his symptoms.

Factors associated with perceived oral health status in older individuals

To assess factors associated with perception of oral health in older individuals. A cross sectional study. A densely populated urban area in Sri Lanka. 585 older adults aged 60 years and above of which 475 were living at home and 110 in institutions. The present analysis is limited to 235 subjects who were subjected to a clinical oral examination. The data were collected by means of an interviewer-administered questionnaire and a clinical oral examination. Overall, 48% of the dentate and 42% of the edentate perceived their oral health as poor. The final model of the hierarchical logistic regression analysis for the dentate revealed that presence of retained roots, mobile teeth, >20 missing teeth and perceived need for dental care were significantly associated with poor perceived oral health status. For the edentate, perceived need for dental care, loss of taste sensation and difficulty in eating were significantly associated with poor perceived oral health status. Factors associated with perceived oral health status differed between the dentate and the edentate. Clinical oral health indicators emerged as significant predictors of perceived oral health status in the dentate although the explanatory power of these indicators on perception of oral health was low.

A rare case of hypoglossal nerve palsy complicating a head injury.

Hypoglossal nerve palsy (HNP) may follow fracture of the base of the skull. Of the various aetiologies described, trauma is one of the least frequent. HNP can easily be missed...

Improvement of oral lesions associated with malignant acanthosis nigricans after treatment of lung cancer

A rare case of malignant acanthosis nigricans associated with lung cancer is presented. The case involved a 70-year-old man who had oral changes and various immunologic dysfunctions, including an increase in antinuclear antibodies. Oral lesions were characterized by papillary hyperplasia, formation of grooves, pigmentation of the upper lip and cheeks, and a loss of taste sensation. After the patient's lung cancer was treated with anticancer drugs, the histopathologic examination showed a marked improvement in oral lesions and significant normalization of immunologic abnormalities. The present case provides unique evidence that oral lesions associated with acanthosis nigricans have a significant correlation with lung cancer and high titers of antinuclear antibodies.

Salivary gland function in sarcoidosis: Report of a case

Bilateral parotid gland swelling, xerostomia with loss of taste sensation, and dryness of the eyes were the presenting symptoms of a male patient who soon afterward developed Boeck's sarcoidosis. Histopathologic involvement of the minor labial salivary glands was observed. Some interesting features of the clinical course of the disease and the salivary gland changes before and after treatment, as shown by salivary flow rate and biochemical studies, are presented.