Summary:
Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) is characterized by chronic
oro-facial pain in the absence of specific oral lesions &
clinically apparent mucosal alterations. It is more commonly
observed in middle aged patients & postmenopausal women.
It often affects tongue, cheek, lip, hard & soft palate. Usually
symptoms are better observed in morning, worsen during the
day and typically subside at night. The condition is
multifactorial origin, often idiopathic and its
etiopathogenesis remain largely enigmatic. Associated
medical conditions may include neurologic and metabolic
disorder, gastrointestinal, urogenital as well as drug
reactions. BMS are of two types, primary & secondary. Primary
BMS is essential or idiopathic where secondary BMS is
caused by local, systemic and/or psychological factors.
Clinical diagnosis depends on the careful history taking,
physical examinations and laboratory findings. Vitamin,
Zinc or Hormone replacement therapy has been found to be
effective with deficiency of the corresponding factors. The
drug therapy with alpha-lipoic acid, capsaicin, clonazepam,
benzodiazepines, tricyclic antidepressants, anticonvulsants
may be effective in symptomatic treatment of BMS. But the
treatment is still unsatisfactory and there is no definitive
cure.
Keywords: Burning Mouth Syndrome, Glossodynia, Review,
Stomatodynia
(J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2016; 34: 151-159)