Case report
Allergic hemiglossitis as a unique case of food allergy: a case report
Accident and Emergency Department, Yeovil District Hospital, Higher Kingston, Yeovil, Somerset BA21 4AT, UK
Journal of Medical Case Reports 2008, 2:71 doi:10.1186/1752-1947-2-71
Published: 6 March 2008Abstract
Introduction
A unique case of topical food allergy is presented with unilateral swelling of the tongue with ulceration. Only one similar case has been reported in 1972.
Case presentation
76 years old female patient presented at the Emergency Department with a unilateral painful swelling and ulcerations of the tongue after eating mint chocolate. However the swelling did not compromised the airways the presentation was rather frightening for the patient. The allergic reaction responded to the parenteral steroid and oral chlorphenamine treatment and the three month follow up only revealed minimal scar formations.
Conclusion
Unilateral hemiglossitis is a rare form of allergic reactions which is usually self-limiting with full recovery of which takes an unusually long time.
