We experienced two child patients who complained of oral symptoms from psychological stress, one of which involved school refusal due to irritable bowel syndrome and eating disorder.
We report them as follows. Case 1: A 15-year-old male patient complained of ulcer formation in the lower lip mucosa. He had occasionally suffered from stomatitis since he was an elementary school student, which had always been treated with ointment. He was introduced to us by the pediatric department of our related hospital, which suspected hereditary Behcet's syndrome because of the ulcer formation in the lower lip mucosa. At the first examination, we suspected that mental stress was associated with this symptom, since he was refusing to go to school. We performed grinding of a tooth acute margin, applied steroid ointment, and interviewed him about his background. Later, he was interviewed by a psychiatrist at our hospital. As a result, it was suggested that the symptom was a psychogenic reaction caused by anxiety resulting from the sudden death of his younger brother.
Case 2: A 15-year-old female patient complained of jaw tiredness while eating. Clicking was noticed in the left mandibular joint in 1996, which she neglected. In addition to the click, jaw tiredness while eating was noticed in April 1997. She consulted a nearby dentist and received splint treatment. Since no improvement occurred, she was introduced to us. At the first examination, she was 150cm in height and 35kg in weight. Since her medical history included sudden weight loss and cessation of menses, we suspected an eating disorder.
We performed temporomandibular arthrosis treatment, and then introduced her to our psychiatric department. She was treated by both departments. Her symptom has been alleviated, and she is now gradually gaining weight.
The above two patients had undergone treatment at verious medical departments before they consulted us. In the future, more and more people may complain of oral symptoms and consult dentists and oral surgeons. It seems that mental stress in their background should be taken into consideration, even in treatment of children.
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