長期経過のなかで含嗽療法と支持的精神療法が奏効した口腔異常感症の１例

oral dysesthesia

北海道歯学会

北海道歯学雑誌

We report a case of a patient with oral dysesthesia who had no apparent benefit from oral pharmacotherapy, but who subsequently showed improvement in her symptoms after long-term follow-up with Rikkosan gargling, sodium bicarbonate gargling, and supportive psychotherapy. A 69-year-old woman attended our hospital with a chief complain t of slime in the oral cavity and a feeling of glue sticking to a part of the throat. Three years before her initial visit, she had been aware of an abnormal sensation of slime in the oral cavity after a sore throat caused by the common co ld had abated, followed by tongue pain. She visited four otolaryngologists and two oral surgeons in her neighborhood. The patient was referred to our department because the abnormal sensation in the oral cavity remained, although the tongue pain was alleviated by Rikkosan gargling prescribed by the referring oral medicine physician. The examination and test results showed no abnormal findings, and a diagnosis of oral dysesthesia was made. There were no obvious effects of any drug therapies such as antidepressants, Kampo medicine, or zinc replacement medication. The patient was advised to gargle three times a day with Rikkosan, and with sodium bicarbonate in between Rikkosan gargles. She was followed up over the long term with supportive psychotherapy at each visit. One year after the initial visit, her oral symptoms gradually decreased, and four years later, she was able to lead her daily life with no problems.