These range fromoral thrushseen in newborns toleukoplakia, which may be a sign of developing cancer in adults.
Some are relatively common, while others are rare.
Some are typically easy to treat, while others are not.
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It can also occur in patients with a normal immune system.
This condition can also be seen on the gums, tonsils, or roof of the mouth.
Symptoms include:
Antifungal medications are known to help thrush.
It is important to speak with a healthcare provider to get the proper diagnosis and treatment.
When this condition occurs, the immune system causes damage to the blood vessels.
The blood vessels then become inflamed and narrow, or close off completely.
Some children diagnosed with COVID-19 have developed symptoms similar to Kawasaki disease.
It’s referred to asmultisystem inflammatory syndrome in children(MIS-C).
Your healthcare provider can help you to learn more about MIS-C if your child tests positive for COVID-19.
This condition is considered a chronic fungal infection.
About 1% of the general population is affected, usually males between the ages of 30 and 50.
Dentists are most often the healthcare professional to diagnose this condition.
The fissures can be deep or shallow, multiple or single.
This condition is more common as people age, and men are affected more than women.
Fissured tongue is not contagious and is harmless.
Geographic Tongue
Geographic tongueappears on the top and sides of the tongue.
There is a defective shedding on the covering tissue of the tongue.
This condition occurs because there is a lack of stimulation to the top of the tongue.
The appearance of hairy tongue varies depending on the cause of the condition.
The tongue can appear green, white, brown, or pink.
If yeast or bacteria are present, the tongue will have a black appearance.
This is known asblack hairy tongue.
The determination of cancer depends on abnormal cells and the appearance, size, and shape of the patches.
The only way to reliably differentiate a non-cancerous leukoplakia from one harboring cancer is through biopsy.
The main symptom of burning tongue is the feeling of a dry mouth.
The condition is typically diagnosed by clinical symptoms.
Vitamin and mineral deficienciessuch as vitamin B12, iron, or folate deficiencycause symptoms similar to burning tongue.
Macroglossia
Macroglossia is an abnormal enlargement of the tongue.
Treatment depends on the cause and can range from surgery to speech therapy.
Surgery is known to help with speech, chewing, and physical appearance.
Your throat problems may be relatively benign, but some causes are very serious and need immediate medical attention.
Be sure to see a dentist for routine check-ups, too.
See your healthcare provider as soon as possible if you have concerning symptoms.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.For Parents: Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) associated with COVID-19.
The American Academy of Oral Medicine.Median Rhomboid Glossitis.
The American Academy of Oral Medicine.Fissured tongue.
The American Academy of Oral Medicine.Hairy tongue.
2020 Oct 1;112(10):1047-1054. doi:10.1093/jnci/djz238.
2020 Jul-Sep;57(3):295-304. doi:10.17219/dmp/120991.
National Center for Advancing Traditional Sciences.Macroglossia.
