Geographic tongue in a child: what causes it and how to treat it

What does it represent?

The more common name for desquamative glossitis - “geographic tongue” - appeared and came into use due to its most characteristic manifestations - the appearance of foci of inflammation on the tongue, which are bordered by white exfoliating epithelium.

Because of this, the appearance of the language begins to resemble a three-dimensional geographical map. Areas of exfoliation and inflammation can appear in a completely random order, both on the back of the tongue and on its lateral surfaces

.

Course of the disease

Photo: what a geographic tongue looks like

The process of desquamation of the epithelium (epithelium is the upper layer of all surfaces of the body, as well as mucous membranes and organs) can last for varying periods of time - from several days to several months. Sometimes even longer.

Usually the little patient does not experience strong discomfort

. However, those areas that are practically unprotected due to the fact that the top layer is exfoliated are highly susceptible to all kinds of infections. If infection occurs, the child’s tongue may become covered with cracks, which lead to quite painful sensations.

Complications and consequences

If the disease is not treated, complications may occur:

1. Scratches and sores on the tongue. A very unpleasant phenomenon that brings pain.
2. Weakness . The child may become lethargic and pale. He will not be able to concentrate during lessons, which will negatively affect his grades at school.
3. Irritability , moodiness. Due to a burning sensation in the mouth, the baby will become restless, begin to cry often and be capricious. This will negatively affect the functioning of the nervous system.
4. Problems with digestion and endocrine system. Geographic language can signal these problems. If you do not pay attention to this, the functioning of the digestive organs will deteriorate and lead to serious illnesses.

Negative consequences also include possible damage to the tissues of the tongue. Due to severe itching, the child may scratch his tongue, cracks and wounds will appear, which are very difficult to cure .

Pathogenic bacteria and viruses can get into the resulting holes in the tongue, which will lead to serious diseases of the oral cavity.

Symptoms

Most often, neither the children themselves nor the parents notice either the onset of the disease or its course until a certain time. Identification occurs in most cases completely by accident - at a dentist’s appointment or an examination of the oral cavity by a general practitioner.

Sometimes older children can notice the problem on their own, for example, during daily oral hygiene procedures or by carefully looking at the tongue in the mirror.

Do you know when to start brushing your child’s teeth? The answer can be found in our article.

We will tell you in detail why a black coating occurs on the tongue in children.

At this address: https://www.vash-dentist.ru/detskaya-stomatologia/polost-rta/tantum-verde-dlya-detey-instruktsiya-po-primeneniyu.html - you will find instructions for using the drug Tantum Verde.

Main symptoms

• the appearance of areas of white-gray clouding of the surface of the tongue;
• swelling and then desquamation of the affected areas of the epithelium;
• the appearance of red or bright pink spots that have different sizes and shapes;

In those areas where desquamation occurs, the mushroom-shaped papillae of the tongue become very visible. They look like bright red dots. Quite rarely, areas of desquamation appear alone. Most often these are numerous lesions on different parts of the tongue.

Possible manifestations

• increased sensitivity of the surface of the tongue;
• burning sensation;
• itching;
• numbness;
• tingling;
• change in sensitivity;
• changes in the perception of taste;
• increase in size due to multiple foci of inflammation and desquamation;
• discomfort during a conversation;
• difficulty swallowing and chewing food;
• headache;
• enlargement of nearby lymph nodes;
• general deterioration of health.

Children often feel very anxious about the appearance of their tongue. This leads to stress, and stress can lead to a significant worsening of the disease. If the process worsens, the strength and speed of desquamation also increases

.

In almost half of the cases this leads to a manifestation such as a folded tongue

– the general shape changes, folds appear on the surface due to multiple foci of desquamation.

Reasons for appearance

The complete list of causes and factors that lead to this disease is still not fully known. Many specialists, incl. and the well-known Dr. Komarovsky, they say that a child’s geographic tongue is most often associated with certain groups of general diseases of the body.

The basis for the occurrence of desquamative glossitis is serious disruptions in the nutrition of cellular tissues, that is, a violation of the trophic (that is, nutritional) function of the mucosa.

• Exudative diathesis. Some children have a tendency to various kinds of inflammatory diseases that affect the skin and mucous membranes. This is the most common and probable cause of this disease in children.
• Diseases that arise due to a lack or disruption of metabolic processes of B vitamins:

1. B1 – disruption of the normal functioning of important body systems - digestive, as well as nervous and cardiovascular (beriberi disease);
2. B2 – all kinds of changes and lesions of the mucous membrane of the tongue, lips and oral cavity, which are inflammatory in nature (bleeding, glossitis, cracks, burning);
3. B6 – various skin lesions (wounds, cracks and scratches that do not heal for a long time, dryness);
4. B12 – megaloblastic anemia (disorder of hematopoietic processes in the bone marrow).

• Diseases that affect the gastrointestinal tract:

1. various types of hepatitis;
2. malabsorption syndrome (changes in the normal functioning of the intestine - disruption of transportation, absorption of food in the large intestine, as well as its digestion);
3. diseases of the stomach, as well as the duodenum (various gastritis);
4. gastroduodenitis, stomach and/or duodenal ulcer.

• Diseases affecting the pancreas:

1. diabetes;
2. pancreatitis (chronic, acute and recurrent forms);
3. tumor neoplasms.

• Some diseases that are associated with the endocrine system of the body and its organs - the thyroid, pancreas and adrenal glands.
• Autoimmune diseases (too strong immunity, the work of which is already directed against one’s own body):

1. Lupus erythematosus is a systemic disease in which damage to connective tissue, as well as blood, begins to appear;
2. Rheumatoid arthritis is damage to the small joints of the tissues that form the framework for organs.

We will talk about the possible reasons for the appearance of a yellow coating on a child’s tongue, and how to treat it.

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At the following address: https://www.vash-dentist.ru/detskaya-stomatologia/d-zubi/uhod-za-dz/elektricheskaya-shhetka-kak-pravilno-vyibrat-dlya-raznogo-vozrasta.html - you will find out how to choose an electric toothbrush for a child

• Complex forms of various viral infections:

1. ARVI with complications;
2. infectious mononucleosis - changes in blood composition, damage to lymph nodes, liver.

• Some diseases of the oral cavity, for example, scrotal congenital tongue.

In addition to general diseases, there are some other factors that can also cause the appearance of desquamative glossitis.

• Use in large doses, as well as uncontrolled use of antibiotics to treat other diseases.
• Hereditary factor.
• The child’s body reacts too strongly to vaccinations.
• Eruption of baby teeth. This is a very likely factor for a certain age group of children, mainly from six months to 4 years. Usually, after eruption is completed, the symptoms of the disease disappear. If not, then the reason is other diseases that require separate treatment.
• Children are also characterized by the appearance of desquamative glossitis due to helminthic infestation (worms), which cannot be eliminated for a long time.
• Mechanical damage to the surface of the mucous membrane of the tongue of varying complexity.

Changes when glossitis occurs

We will find out further what changes occur in children’s bodies and how children feel.

The tongue reacts to spicy, very hot or very hot food; it happens that children experience a decrease or change in the tastes of different foods, in other words, dysgeusia occurs.

With this disease, children may also develop parageusia - the appearance of some kind of taste in the oral cavity, although they do not have to eat. There is also a feeling when, during a meal, taste is not detected, which means that the receptors are very dull.

But the listed symptoms, as well as others characteristic of the absence of taste buds, occur very rarely during the onset of desquamative glossitis.

Those places that peel off are not covered with anything, so they are easily exposed to various bacteria. In addition, during this disease, cracks form, which is why the swallowing process becomes difficult and the submandibular lymph nodes begin to enlarge.

If spots appear on the tongue, you should consult a pediatrician, as the baby may have other diseases

In addition to the listed diseases, other factors can cause the appearance of spots on the tongue. Among them:

• The body's reaction to prolonged or uncontrolled use of antibiotics.
• The baby's body's response to a specific vaccine.
• The period of dentition, that is, the eruption of teeth. Very often in this interval (from six months to 4 years) the baby has a geographic tongue, and after the completion of dentition everything returns to normal.
• In infants. Some babies put everything in their mouths, and using inappropriate objects can damage the surface of the tongue.
• Worm infestation can also cause desquamative glossitis. A stool and blood test should be done to identify traces of parasites and, if necessary, undergo treatment. There is a possibility that after this the appearance of this organ will become normal.
• Injuries, burns and other damage to the tongue.

A complete list of reasons that can lead to the development of desquamative glossitis is currently unknown to science. Many versions are considered, according to which geographic language is rarely considered as a separate pathology, more often as a symptom of certain pathologies. It is believed that children who are prone to allergies, diathesis, atopic dermatitis, and exudative diathesis are more susceptible to the disease. In such children, an unusual tongue occurs much more often than the average statistical norm; up to 60% of children with such diagnoses experience signs of desquamative glossitis.

Geographic tongue can appear with significant metabolic disorders, with a pathological lack of B vitamins, as well as with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (peptic ulcer, gastritis, gastroduodenitis). With hepatitis and chronic pancreatitis, an unusual pattern of the tongue occurs in approximately 15% of cases; sometimes desquamative glossitis occurs against the background of the formation of benign and malignant tumors, but a direct connection between them has not been established.

The disease often accompanies autoimmune pathologies, for example, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus. After severe viral infections, the formation of unusual spots on the tongue is also possible.

In infants, geographic tongue may appear during the eruption of baby teeth, and in this case there is no need to worry too much - after the teeth erupt, the color of the tongue will again acquire normal natural characteristics. Another safe reason is puberty. A phenomenon such as desquamative glossitis can appear before the first menstruation in girls. Once the cycle is established, the problem also resolves itself.

And another reason why characteristic “geographical” spots may appear on a baby’s tongue is quite common - heredity.

Treatment

It is impossible to describe one treatment option, since the measures taken in a particular case are entirely individual. This happens due to a huge number of possible reasons.

If the disease was caused by any general disease, then, first of all, it should be treated. Since without eliminating the cause, local treatment of geographic tongue is useless.

However, there are a number of therapeutic measures that should be carried out in any case, regardless of what caused the occurrence of desquamative glossitis.

• Sanitation of the oral cavity - identification and treatment of caries (for baby teeth this is as important as for permanent teeth), removal of plaque and all kinds of deposits, regular cleaning of the entire oral cavity using professional methods, as well as careful self-hygiene.
• To maintain internal balance and enhance the body's protective properties, it is recommended to take multivitamin complexes.
• After the first symptoms appear, alkaline rinses are desirable.
• If itching, pain, burning or other unpleasant symptoms occur, you can use analgesic (painkiller) applications of various drugs on the affected surface of the mucosa.
• Antiseptic rinses.
• Therapy that reduces the body's allergic activity and its manifestations.

You should not neglect seeing a doctor and treating geographic tongue, even if this disease does not manifest itself in any way, except for exclusively external, visible symptoms.

Diagnosis by a specialist is extremely important, since this disease can be an indicator of other, more serious and dangerous ones that require mandatory medical examination and treatment.

Home treatments

Traditional medicine also has some methods and recipes used for desquamative glossitis. Almost all of them are aimed at alleviating discomfort and getting rid of external symptoms.

• Rinse
  . Add 2-3 drops of iodine and half a small spoon of soda to a glass of warm water - you should rinse your mouth with this solution twice a day, after brushing your teeth. Pure vegetable oil, sterilized in a water bath (the duration should be at least half an hour), after cooling, can also be used for rinsing.

  The duration of this procedure should be at least 2 minutes. Rinsing with decoctions of herbs that have an antiseptic effect - chamomile, St. John's wort, sage and others.

• Lotions
  made from gauze napkins, pre-moistened with oils (vaseline or peach), fish oil. Apply gauze for 3-5 minutes.
• Special oral baths
  . To do this, you need to take sunflower oil (or other vegetable oil) boiled for 20 minutes in a water bath and cool it. After cooling completely, a small amount (1.5–2 tablespoons) is taken into the mouth for 5–10 minutes and then spat out.

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Write a comment

• Svetlana

  March 16, 2015 at 6:49 am

  The cause of geographic tongue can indeed be several diseases. But mainly this is a problem of the gastric tract. And first of all, such an unpleasant disease as gastroesophageal reflux. This is when the contents of the stomach are thrown back into the esophagus and even the oral cavity. This can be complicated in addition bile reflux, when bile from the duodenum is thrown into the stomach and esophagus. So you should definitely contact a gastroenterologist, because if the disease becomes chronic, then it’s just torment, as it is accompanied by constant heartburn and burning in the esophagus and oral cavity. So that the most important thing is to start treating it right away; for this, the doctor will prescribe medications and a strict diet. So you should always monitor the child’s tongue.

• Tatiana

  May 30, 2015 at 11:04 am

  In addition to rinsing with soda, chlorgrexidine lotions also help. In my case, this disease is caused by stress and manifests itself when the body is weakened - nervous overstrain or a cold.

• Nadia

  January 1, 2016 at 10:04 pm

  Hello! My son is 3 years old. He has a geographic tongue. Our doctor always tells me to just rinse when I come. Spots appear periodically, and recently I began to notice that with the appearance of spots on my son’s tongue, his bowel movements are disturbed. But there are no complaints from him arrived.

  Read also:  Ulcers on a child’s tongue – causes and various treatment methods

• Olga

  August 28, 2016 at 6:15 pm

  My son’s geographic tongue was noticed by a dentist during an appointment. I had never even heard of this before, and I didn’t know that, to be honest, there are different languages. Nothing bothered my son, there were no complaints. The dentist said that there is nothing wrong, the main thing is to find out the reason. Perhaps it’s untreated teeth, or a lack of vitamin B. We fixed all the teeth, and after a while I noticed that my son’s tongue became even.

• Irina

  September 4, 2016 at 12:19 pm

  My sister also had a similar experience in childhood, but they did nothing, they didn’t even pay attention to this fact. As she grew older, everything disappeared; now her language is normal, like all other children. Therefore, I am inclined to conclude that with age, geographic tongue goes away on its own without any treatment. So there’s nothing to be afraid of, at least it’s passed for us.

• Nata

  February 8, 2022 at 0:02

  My youngest had this condition of his tongue a couple of years ago, I noticed it by chance when I was brushing my teeth, but not as bad as in the pictures, there were smaller marks. I didn’t immediately understand what was wrong, I thought it was burned with something like acid, especially since before that I had complained a little about my stomach. We rushed to the doctor, it turned out to be worms, we were treated and everything went away, the tongue returned to normal. But the doctor also explained to me that such symptoms occur for various reasons, so if suddenly this appears on a child’s tongue, you don’t need to wait until it goes away on its own, but immediately consult a doctor.

What does Dr. Komarovsky advise?

To cure your child faster, it is recommended to follow the doctor’s advice:

1. Do not scratch or injure your tongue. During the treatment period, food should be soft , not hard. Spicy and too hot dishes are prohibited.
2. The child should be prohibited from scratching his tongue. This can lead to wounds and complications.
3. It is imperative to show the child to the doctor. Geographic language always signals larger problems .
4. It is recommended to give the child vitamins or vitamin complexes. It is quite possible that the child has vitamin deficiency. This method will help restore the child's health.
5. There is no need to rush to give your child serious medications . Usually vitamins and various lotions help to heal. Recovery occurs within two weeks.