Investigating Simultaneous Occurrence of Head and Neck Lymphadenopathy and Mouth Breathing with Geographic and Fissured Tongue in Patients Referred to Oral Medicine Department of Yazd Dental School

Geographic tongue and fissured tongue involve the most prevalent developmental tongue disorders, which allergy can be mentioned as one of its causes. Allergy is normally accompanied with different abnormalities such as mouth breathing and lymphoid hyperplasia. The purpose of this study was to assess the simultaneous occurrence of the head and neck lymphadenopathy and mouth breathing with geographic and fissured tongue.

This case control study was conducted on 190 patients referring to oral medicine department of Yazd dental school who were systemically healthy without sinusitis, taking no medication within the last month, or having any source of dental infection. The study participants were chosen via convenience sampling divided into two groups including geographic or fissured tongue patients and the control group. After filling out the consent form, all subjects were examined in regard with head and neck lymphadenopaty and mouth breathing. In order to compare the two groups, SPSS software (version, 17) was applied utilizing Chi-Square test.

In the case group, 67 subjects had head and neck lymphadenopathy. No significant difference was observed between the case and control group in presence of lymphadenopathy (P-Value= 0.317). Moreover, 18 subjects in the case group demonstrated mouth breathing. The study results revealed a significant difference between the case and control group in presence of mouth breathing (P-Value= 0.005).

The study findings revealed that regarding the significant difference in occurrence of mouth breathing, the probable symptoms of allergy should be taken into account in these patients in order to provide a timely diagnosis and treatment via frequent follow-up of such predisposed patients.