Citation

Tsunoda K, Masuda K. Burns 2009; 35(1): 146-147.

Affiliation

Department of Artificial Organs, National Institute of Sensory Organs, 2-5-1 Higashigaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8902, Japan.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.burns.2008.01.008

PMID

18976865

Abstract

An 18-year-old boy visited our clinic because of dysphagia. Three days previously, he had consulted his family physician due to tongue pain. The diagnosis was herpes simplex viral infection of the tongue, and antiviral therapy was prescribed. However, the pain did not resolve and the patient was unable to swallow.

After taking a thorough medical history, the reason for the tongue lesions was clarified. As an unusually fashion-conscious teenager, the patient had been trying to achieve a dark summer tan and visited an aesthetic salon to use a tanning machine. The day before the salon visit, he had accidentally bitten his tongue. He hit upon the idea that the ultraviolet light of the tanning machine would be good therapy for his sore tongue and therefore stuck his tongue out while inside the tanning machine, although he experienced severe pain in the tongue after about 30 s. The patient then felt that he was ready for summer with a fashionably dark tan, despite the tongue pain. After going to bed that night, however, the pain worsened and he was unable to sleep.

Many causes of tongue burn have been reported, including hot water, food, chemicals, and electricity. The primary aim of therapy is to prevent infections and airway obstruction. The final diagnosis in our patient was tongue burn caused by a tanning machine. Eight days after our diagnosis, the tongue pain and seemingly herpetic bullae over the entire bilateral tongue completely disappeared and the patient was able to taste, eat, and sleep.

Language: en