Inflammation of the tongue is known as?

Appeared in: NHM MP Staff Nurse - 2015

Explanation

Glossitis is the specific medical term for inflammation of the tongue.
This condition can cause the tongue to swell, change color, and lose its normal bumpy texture (papillae), resulting in a smooth appearance.
It is often a symptom of underlying issues, most commonly nutritional deficiencies such as a lack of vitamin B12, folic acid, or iron.

Option A: Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gingiva, which are the gums surrounding the teeth, not the tongue itself.
Option C: Parotitis is the inflammation of the parotid glands, the largest of the salivary glands, located on the sides of the face in front of the ears.
Option D: Stomatitis is a general term for inflammation of the mucous membranes inside the mouth. While this can include the tongue, Glossitis is the more specific and accurate term solely for tongue inflammation.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Medical Terminology for Oral Inflammation as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
A nurse's assessment of the oral cavity is critical, as changes in the tongue's appearance (glossitis) can be an early indicator of significant systemic conditions like pernicious anemia or other nutritional deficiencies.
Patient education is a key nursing role, involving teaching about proper oral hygiene and discussing dietary adjustments if a nutritional deficiency is identified as the cause of glossitis.
What if? If a patient with glossitis also complains of a burning sensation in the mouth and cracks at the corners of the lips (angular cheilitis), the nurse should have a higher suspicion for a Vitamin B complex deficiency, warranting a focused nutritional assessment and provider notification.

How to Approach the Question

This is a direct recall question that tests your knowledge of medical terminology related to the oral cavity.
First, identify the key terms in the question: 'inflammation' and 'tongue'.
Recall or deduce the Greek/Latin roots for these terms. The suffix '-itis' universally means inflammation.
The root word for tongue is 'glossa' (Greek). Therefore, inflammation of the tongue is 'gloss-itis'.
Evaluate the other options to confirm your choice: 'Gingiva' refers to the gums (Gingivitis), 'Parotid' refers to the parotid gland (Parotitis), and 'Stoma' refers to an opening or mouth (Stomatitis).

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nursing Fundamentals Taylor p. 542-544

E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 1 p. 306-308

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Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.