Burning mouth syndrome associated with varicella zoster virus. (5th July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nagel, Maria A; Gilden, Don
• Is Part Of: BMJ case reports. Volume 2016
• Publication Date: 2016-07-05
• Subjects: Medicine -- Case studies -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2016-215953
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-790X

Abstract

Abstract : We present two cases of burning mouth syndrome (BMS)—of 8-month duration in a 61-year-old woman and of 2-year duration in a 63-year-old woman—both associated with increased levels of antivaricella zoster virus (VZV) IgM antibodies in serum and with pain that improved with antiviral treatment. Combined with our previous finding of BMS due to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection, we recommend evaluation of patients with BMS not only for VZV or HSV-1 DNA in the saliva, but also for serum anti-VZV and anti-HSV-1 IgM antibodies. Both infections are treatable with oral antiviral agents.