Riga-Fede disease is a term used to describe traumatic ulceration occurring on the ventral surface of the tongue in neonates and infants. This lesion was first described by Antonio Riga in 1881 and subsequent histological studies were performed by Francesco Fede in 1890, which led to the lesion being termed as Riga-Fede disease.
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It is commonly caused by mechanical trauma from natal, neo-natal or primary lower incisors and rarely may be the initial presentation of a neurological disorder.
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Various terms have been used to describe this lesion, like Riga’s disease, Riga-Fede’s disease, sublingual ulcer, sublingual granuloma, traumatic sublingual ulceration, eosinophilic granuloma, traumatic eosinophilic ulceration of the tongue and oral mucosa, sublingual fibrogranuloma, sublingual growth in infants and traumatic atrophic glossitis.
The lesion initially presents as an ulcerated area on the ventral surface of the tongue and with repeated trauma, it may progress to an enlarged, fibrous mass giving the appearance of an ulcerative granuloma. The pain associated with this oral lesion leads to dehydration and feeding difficulties, which in turn may pose potential risks to infants due to nutritional deficiencies.
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If the child is immunocompromised, then the potential for infection can add to the complications of the disease. In order to be termed as Riga-Fede disease, this lesion should be present in a child less than two years of age. Over the age of two years, the term oral traumatic granuloma is used.
° Mehta A, Chaudhary S, Chaitra TR and Sinha A. Riga-Fede Disease (Dentitia Praecox): Report of Two Cases with Literature Review. Austin J Dent. 2017; 4(3): 1073.
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