Health Assessment Test 2

Grinding teeth, especially at night.

Chalky, white, thick, raised patch with well-defined borders

The lesion is firmly attached and does not scrape of. It may occur on the lateral edges of tongue. It is due to chronic irritation, and occurs more frequently with heavy smoking and heavy alcohol use. Lesions are precancerous and the person should be referred.

Fungal infection of the tongue.

This is not really hair but the elongation of filiform papillae and painless overgrowth of mycelial threads of fungus infection on the tongue. Color varies from black-brown to yellow. It occurs after use of antibiotics, which inhibit normal bacteria and allow proliferation of fungus.

A smooth, glossy tongue that occurs with pernicous anemia

The surface is slick and shiny; the mucosa thins and loods red from decreased papillae. Accompanied by dryness of tongue and burning. Occurs with vitamin B12 deficiency (pernicious anemia), folic acid deficiency, and iron deficiency anemia.

Called thrush in a new born


A white, cheesy, curdlike patch on the buccal mucosa and tongue. It scrapes off, leaving raw, red surface that bleeds easily. Termed "thrush" in the newborn. It
is an opportunistic infection that occurs after the use of antibiotics, corticosteroids, and in immunosuppressed persons.

Dry mouth

The oral form of this lesion is the most common early lesion seen in people with AIDS

Cracking, erythema, and painful fissures at the corners of the mouth that occur with excess slivation.


Erythema, scaling, shallow and painful fissures at the corners of the mouth occur with excess salivation and candida infection. It is often seen in edentulous persons and in those with poorly fitting dentures causing folding in of corners of mouth, creating a warm, moist environment favoring growth of yeast.

Smooth gray nodules that are overgrowths of mucosa.

These are most commonly caused by chronic allergic rhinitis. May be stalked. A common site is protrusion from the middle meatus. Often multiple, they are mobile and nontender in contrast to turbinates. They may obstruct air passageways as they get larger. Symptoms include the absence of a sense of smell and a "valve that moves" in the most as the person breathes.

Facial pain, after upper respiratory infection: signs include red swollen nasal mucosa, swollen turbinates, and purulent discharge. Person also has vever, chills, malaise. With maxillary sinusitis, dull throbbing pain occurs in cheeks and teeth on the same side, and pain with palpation is present. With frontal sinusitis, pain is above the supraorbital ridge.

Bloody nose

Runny nose

Painless enlargement of the gums, sometimes overreaching the teeth.

Gum margins are red, swollen, and bleed easily, usually due to poor pygiene or vitmain C deficiency.

"Canker sores"

is a vesicle at first, then a small, round, "punched out" ulcer with white base surrounded by a red halo. It is quite painful and lasts for 1 to 2 weeks. The cause is unknown, although it is associated with stress, fatigue, and food allergy. It is common, affecting 20% to 60% of the population.