Tongue
Let us learn about the disorders of the tongue. Examination of the tongue may indicate presence of systemic disease. Signs of anemia, nutritional deficiency and infectious diseases are seen in the tongue.
Some of the disorders are the following:
1. Microglossia or small tongue
2. Macroglossia or large tongue may occur as a result of
developmental deviation, inflammation or neoplasms.
3. Fissured tongue may be congenital or may develop in Down
Syndrome – this may be found in syphilis
4. A white or brown tongue may be present in fever, stomatitis and
mouth breathers individuals
5. Strawberry tongue is seen in Scarlet fever with desquamated
tongue and prominent lingual papillae
6. Black hairy tongue is a condition characterized by elongation of
the filiform papillae and accumulation of dark pigments
– seen in vitamin deficiencies, anemias, leukemias and other
antibiotic therapy
7. White hairy tongue
– there is an elongation of the papillae but without discoloration
8. Geographic tongue
– or wandering rash
– characterized by annular or circinate desquamation of
theepithelium with white borders and of no significance
9. Atrophic glossitis
– seen in pernicious anemia