Biology
Human Health and Diseases Solutions
Ch. 22 Case Study
A 37-year-old male visited his family dentist for a prophy.
During the oral exam, a white plaque was noted on the dorsal
tongue.
When questioned about the lesion, the patient stated he was
aware of the white patch on the tongue and that it had been
present for approximately two weeks. The patient denied any
pain or burning in the affected area, reporting that the lesion had
not appeared to increase or decrease in size.
At the time of the dental appointment, the patient appeared to be
in a general good state of health. He reported a recent use of
antibiotics for an upper respiratory infection. No other health
problems were noted, and no medications were being taken by
the patient at the time of the dental examination. The patient's
dental history included regular examinations and routine dental
treatment.
The patient's vital signs were all found to be within normal
limits. Examination of the head and neck region revealed no
palpable lymph nodes. No significant or unusual findings were
discovered during the extraoral examination.
Intraoral examination revealed a white plaque on the midline of
the posterior dorsal tongue measuring approximately 1.5 cm in
diameter. The lesion could not be removed by wiping or
scraping. Further oral examination revealed no other lesions
present.
Questions:
1. Based on the clinical information available, what is the most
likely diagnosis?
2. What is the organism responsible for this infection?
3. Is this organism part of the normal human microbiota?
4. Describe a couple of factors that may predispose a person to
this infection.
5. How should you treat this disease?
