Introduction:

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways, treated with inhaled corticosteroids, which may act on the airways causing adverse effects on oral health.

Objective:

To demonstrate the oral conditions that are related to the use of corticosteroids to raise awareness about their repercussions on the oral cavity.

Case report:

A 4-year-old patient presents with a lesion on the back of the tongue in the form of a whitish plaque. He reports slight discomfort, sensitivity and burning. The mother reports that she suffers from asthma and uses Salbutamol 100 mcg and Budesonide 200 mcg via oropharyngeal inhalation. The whitish plaque is removed, leaving an erythematous area in the midline sector of the tongue, reddish, smooth and shiny with depapilation. Carious lesions are also evident in the primary upper incisors. Pseudomembranous candidiasis is established as a diagnosis. Rinsing with 5mL of nystatin 100,000 IU/mL for one minute is indicated. After 15 days, he reported a great reduction in discomfort and burning but with persistence of smooth, shiny and depapilated areas, this time located in the anterior sector of the tongue. It is indicated to continue rinsing once a day before going to sleep for 2 more days. Two months after starting treatment, the absence of candidiasis was observed and benign migratory glossitis was established as a secondary diagnosis.

Conclusion:

The use of corticosteroids has an impact on the oral cavity, making the child more prone to suffering from certain oral pathologies such as candidiasis and dental caries.

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