title: Burning mouth syndrome associated with varicella zoster virus.
abstract: We present two cases of burning mouth syndrome (BMS)-of 8-month duration in a 61-year-old woman and of 2-year duration in a 63-year-old woman-both associated with increased levels of antivaricella zoster virus (VZV) IgM antibodies in serum and with pain that improved with antiviral treatment. Combined with our previous finding of BMS due to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection, we recommend evaluation of patients with BMS not only for VZV or HSV-1 DNA in the saliva, but also for serum anti-VZV and anti-HSV-1 IgM antibodies. Both infections are treatable with oral antiviral agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA.
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nagel
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA.
authors.forename: Don
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gilden
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002054:Burning Mouth Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012463:Saliva / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000998:Antiviral Agents