Abstract
A case of candidal cheilitis showing an apparent swelling of the lower lip of an 82-year-old woman is reported. The cheilitis was accompanied by erythematous candidiasis. Oral candidiasis is classified into three major variants based on clinical manifestation: pseudomembranous, erythematous (atrophic) and hyperplastic. In addition, there are several other lesions associated with Candida infection, such as denture-induced stomatitis, median rhomboid glossitis, and angular cheilitis. Candidal cheilitis is usually an erosive lesion of the middle lower lip; swelling of the lips is not the characteristic clinical finding of candidiasis. Thus, the finding itself was not sufficient to diagnose candidiasis clinically. A microscopic examination of a smear specimen stained with the fluorescence dye Fungiflora Y, which demonstrates hyphae of Candida, was useful for the diagnostic work-up and its differential diagnosis. A quick diagnosis using microscopic examination makes it easy to perform appropriate antifungal chemotherapy. Although swelling has not been considered a common sign in oral candidiasis, clinicians should remember that Candida infection is one of the causes of swelling of the lip.
