Clinical Flashcards
Which groups of viruses cause infection in the oral cavity?
Herpesviruses
Papillomaviruses
Coxsackie viruses
Paramyxoviruses
List all the herpesviruses
herpes simplex 1 herpes simplex 2 varicella zoster (chicken pox) Epstein Barr virus Cytomegalovirus HHV-6 (not well known) HHV-8 (causes Kaposi sarcoma)
List 3 triggers for secondary herpes simplex 1 infection.
- Sunlight
- Immunosuppression
- Stress
Who gets herpes zoster (shingles)?
Usually immunosuppressed individuals, who are often very old and have significant systemic illnesses: Malignancy (lymphoma/leukemia), Drugs (corticosteroids) and AIDS.
List the different proteins that are attacked in pemphigus vulgaris and mucous membrane pemphigoid.
Pemphigus vulgaris - desmoglein 3
MMP - laminin 5 BP180
How do you diagnose pemphigus vulgarise and MMP?
Biopsy (from non-ulcerated mucosa)
Confirm with immunofluorescence -
What causes/triggers recurrent aphthae?
Syndromes - Behcet syndrome, PFAPA (periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, cervical adenitis) syndrome
- Associated with coeliac disease and ulcerative colitis
- Triggers - stress, trauma, diet, hormones, depressed immunity
Describe the 3 types of recurrent aphthous ulcers.
- Minor ~5mm in diameter
- Major 10+mm
- Herpetiform - coalesced ulcers with irregular margins
Outline non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic management of RAS
Non-pharmacologic - control of predisposing factors: trauma, deficiency states, certain triggering foods, hormone therapy (in pts that get ulcers related to menstrual cycle), stress management counselling
Pharmacologic - CHX mouthwash, topical anaesthetic gels, topical corticosteroid (if in prodromal stage –> can hasten recovery), corticosteroid mouthwash (for widespread ulceration), systemic corticosterids (severe cases)
What is Erythema Multiforme
Inflammatory (type 4 cell-mediated hypersensitivity reaction) muco-cutaneous disease characterised with swelling, redness and blistering/crusting of significant skin/mucosal areas
3 common triggers of Erythema Multiforme
- Infection by HSV
- Drug reactions to NSAIDs or anticonvulsants
- Food preservatives - benzoic acid
Prognosis of Erythema Multiforme
Self-limiting - resolves over 2-6 weeks depending on severity
Treatment of Erythema Multiforme
Supportive in nature - analgesic and antiseptic mouthwashes
Eye involvement - assessed by ophthalmologist
corticosteroids (severe disease)
hospital admission (EM major with dehydration and limitation in drinking)
What is the 5-year survival rate of oral cancer?
50%
What is histoplasmosis
Deep fungal infection, spread through inhalation of spores. Can cause chronic non healing ulcers in the oral cavity, secondary to lung disease
What is the supposed aetiology of hairy tongue?
- Drugs - antibiotics and systemic corticosteroids
- Smoking (high intensity)
- Irradiated patients
There seems to be an alteration of the normal oral microbiota with overgrowth of fungi and certain chromogenic bacteria and concomitant hyperplasia of filliform papilla
Management of hairy tongue
- Identification/management of predisposing factors (e.g. antibiotics)
- Brushing with baking soda
- Reassurance
Summarise Erythema migrans
- also called geographic tongue
- benign condition of unknown aetiology
- affects tongue, strongly associated with fissured tongue
- Presents as atrophic (red) patches surrounded by raised hyperkeratotic margins
- Self-limiting, usually asymptomatic
- If symptomatic - Good OH, steroids
What is the significance of Oral Lichen planus
- Relatively common - 2% of population
- Potential for malignant transformation - 1% at 5 years
- More severe forms can be painful and distressing, requiring steroids
Pathogenesis of OLP
- T-Lymphocytes attack epithelium of mucosa destroying basal keratinocytes via released cytokines (initiate apoptosis)