title: Burning mouth syndrome in the Basque Country: a preliminary study of 30 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To know the most important clinical features of Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) in our environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study of 30 BMS patients, 29 female and 1 male, with a mean age of 60.2 years (range 37-89), was made. A previously designed clinical protocol, including blood counts, levadure culture, oral pH measurement and non-stimulated salivary flow rate, was completed by all patients. Comparative and descriptive statistical analysis was performed. The Chi-square test was applied (p< 0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Moreover of a burning sensation, 60 % of patients presented oral dryness and 60 % dysgeusia. The tongue was the most frequent site affected of burning sensation (66.7 %). Type II of BMS was the most common (53.3%). In women, 82.9 % were postmenopausal. A 13.3 % of patients suffered type II Diabetes, 6.7 % vitamin deficiency and 56.6 % used xerostomy-inducer medication. The 56.6 % of patients showed chronic anxiety and/or depression. The 46.7 % had a deficient oral hygiene level and 44.4 % wore inadequate dentures. Salivary flow rate was decreased in 50 % of patients. Significant levadure growth was not detected in any case.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BMS patients in our environment are principally postmenopausal women, with tongue burning, xerostomy, dysgeusia and chronic anxiety and/or depression.
authors.affiliation: Medicina Bucal, Departamento de Estomatología, Facultad de Medicina y Odontología, Universidad del País Vasco/EHU. otpagurj@lg.ehu.es
authors.forename: Asier
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eguia Del Valle
authors.forename: Jose Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Aguirre-Urizar
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martinez-Conde
authors.forename: Ma Angeles
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Echebarria-Goikouria
authors.forename: Onintza
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sagasta-Pujana
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002054:Burning Mouth Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D017698:Postmenopause; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013030:Spain