A healthy child's tongue has a soft pink tint , but sometimes a dark gray or black coating appears on the surface of the baby's taste organ.
A change in the color of a child's tongue makes parents seriously worried.
There is no need to panic right away - black coating on the tongue in children is not always pathological .
Why might it appear?
Keep in mind! Most often, a child’s taste organ darkens for the following reasons:
- Eating large amounts of food containing natural or synthetic dyes . Candies, tea, lemonade, dark berries (currants, blackberries, blueberries, mulberries), as well as jams and compotes based on them, can color your tongue dark.
- Taking certain medications. This organ is often colored dark by iron preparations in the form of drops, which are prescribed to the baby to treat anemia. Also, the color of the taste organ often changes during prolonged treatment with antibiotics, or when taking activated carbon.
In rare cases, the tongue darkens for reasons unknown to modern medicine.
Thus, the surface of the taste organ may darken due to excessive growth of the papillae of the tongue, followed by their keratinization and darkening .
Stay up to date! This phenomenon is called “villous tongue”; in the absence of complaints, special treatment is not required, and the condition of the taste organ is normalized within a few weeks.
Less commonly, the cause of darkening of a child’s tongue is various pathological conditions of organs and body systems:
- gastritis;
- colitis;
- enteritis;
- pathologies of the gallbladder and pancreas;
- acute deficiency of B vitamins and vitamin PP;
- dysbacteriosis;
- stomatitis;
- caries;
- oral candidiasis;
- Crohn's disease;
- lead poisoning;
- immunodeficiency, HIV;
- severe dehydration;
- infectious diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract: sore throat, ARVI, bronchitis.
Note! The cause of dark plaque in a baby can also be acidosis - a shift in the acid-base balance of the body towards increasing acidity.
Yellow coating on the tongue
If your tongue turns slightly yellow in hot weather, there is no cause for concern. An alarming sign is the formation of a pronounced yellow coating on the tongue, which most often indicates serious disturbances in the functioning of the liver, gall bladder, and other pathologies of the digestive system.
Why is the tongue yellow?
- A small yellow plaque that appears in the morning and is easily removed during standard teeth brushing may indicate intoxication of the body (metabolic disorders, excess toxins). If the tongue remains clean for several hours after the procedure, then it really is a matter of toxins. To get rid of plaque, the patient needs to change his diet in order to normalize the functioning of the digestive system.
- Yellow plaque, loose in structure, combined with a specific taste and bad breath is a sign of serious disorders in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, requiring appropriate diagnosis and treatment. If such plaque appears, you need to contact a gastroenterologist.
- Yellow plaque in tandem with a high temperature may indicate inflammation of the ENT organs (pharyngitis, sore throat).
In addition, a yellow coating on the tongue inevitably appears in smokers, coffee and black tea drinkers.
Associated symptoms
If a black coating is detected on the child’s organ of taste, you should pay special attention to the child’s accompanying symptoms and complaints.
Possible symptoms:
- nausea and vomiting;
- diarrhea with particles of undigested food;
- loss or abnormal increase in appetite;
- stomach ache;
- dry or bitter mouth;
- weakness;
- temperature increase;
- headache;
- redness of the mucous membranes of the mouth and tonsils;
- pain when swallowing.
It is worth noting! Sometimes, even in the presence of dark gray and black deposits on the tongue, the child voices absolutely no complaints.
The complete absence of accompanying symptoms is characteristic of fungal infection of the mucous membranes of the mouth, as well as when plaque occurs for non-pathological reasons.
In what case should you consult a doctor and undergo an examination?
If the deposits disappear on their own after rinsing your mouth or drinking, there is no need to go to the hospital, since the cause of the darkening of the tongue is most likely food.
If the plaque does not disappear when rinsing, but appears again after cleaning the tongue, you should make an appointment with a pediatrician.
If the blackening of the surface is accompanied by acute abdominal pain, diarrhea or vomiting, you should immediately consult a doctor or call an ambulance.
You should not try to treat your child yourself or try folk remedies without consulting a specialist and finding out the reasons for the blackening of the tongue.
You should know! Self-medication can cause serious harm to the baby's health.
Types of black tongue and its causes
If the tongue seems to be covered with black dots, or looks “speckled”, then the cause of this phenomenon is most often:
- damage to the oral cavity by a fungal infection (if this is not dealt with, the tongue will soon turn completely black);
- exacerbation of chronic diseases of the digestive system;
- lead poisoning (Remak's disease).
The appearance of a large black spot that increases in size may indicate:
- exacerbation of an existing chronic disease;
- complications after colds;
- malfunctions of the abdominal organs;
- genitourinary infections.
It happens that the entire tongue is covered with a black coating and even the enamel of the teeth acquires a green-black tint. Typically, such symptoms require visiting two doctors at once: a dentist and a therapist.
Acidosis
Acidosis can be caused by dehydration, diet, excessive sugar consumption, alcohol, intoxication, treatment with a number of drugs, etc. In addition to plaque on the tongue, acidosis is accompanied by nausea, malaise, shortness of breath, and high blood pressure.
What to do. Acidosis is not a disease, but it can accompany many diseases and lead to serious problems in the body - heart attack, thrombosis, etc.
Angina
Plaque on the tongue with sore throat is very common. Usually this condition is accompanied by high fever, sore throat, weakness, and headache.
What to do. It is fraught with complications in the form of peritonsillar abscess, myocarditis, pyelonephritis, rheumatism, etc. A sore throat can be one of the symptoms of a fungal infection, influenza, infections (diphtheria, measles, scarlet fever), diseases of the hematopoietic organs (leukemia, agranulocytosis, etc.) Therefore, any sore throat requires serious attitude and treatment.
Avitaminosis
Lack of vitamin PP leads to hemorrhagic disorders of the stomach, intestines, and vagina. In addition to a black coating, vitamin deficiency may cause the tongue to peel or ulcerate. Similar disturbances occur in internal organs.
What to do. It is necessary to find out the cause of vitamin deficiency, improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and introduce foods with vitamin PP into your diet (fish dishes, offal, green vegetables, etc.)
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are often the cause of blackening of the tongue. Self-medication and the habit of taking antibiotics for any pimple on the face are especially dangerous. Antibiotic therapy should be supported by B vitamins and probiotics.
What to do. Reproduction of fungal flora requires treatment with antifungal drugs, restoration of microflora and increased immunity (at least 2 weeks). At the same time, it is necessary to clean the tongue with a toothbrush and rinse the mouth with propolis, nystatin or herbal mixtures.
Diseases of internal organs
The tongue is the first section of the digestive system. Changes in its appearance often signal a problem in the entire system.
Digestive pathologies can provoke signals in the form of a feeling of bitterness, rotten belching, nausea, pain in the hypochondrium after eating. The range of diseases can be extensive - from dyskinesia, cholecystitis, pancreatitis, to stomach or duodenal ulcers, etc. The most dangerous disease in this case is cirrhosis of the liver.
What to do. It is necessary to undergo a serious examination by a doctor (general blood and urine analysis, blood biochemistry, fibrogastroscopy, etc.).
Fungal infection
A black tongue can be an indicator of a fungal infection, more often thrush. If the plaque is not white, but dark, this indicates that the process is neglected.
Often, oral thrush is combined with intestinal dysbiosis and vaginal candidiasis. May occur after long-term treatment with antibiotics, abuse of sweet or starchy foods.
What to do. If untimely or ill-treated, thrush can become chronic.
Renal dysfunction
When black plaque is combined with urination disorders, lower back pain, and swelling, renal dysfunction can be suspected.
What to do. You will need to see a specialist to rule out kidney disease. In this case, a series of urine and blood tests and an ultrasound of the kidneys are prescribed. Kidney diseases are dangerous due to complications in the form of chronic renal failure.
Crohn's disease
This rare disease is associated with autoimmune disorders.
The reasons are related to:
- decreased adrenal function;
- increased melanin content in the skin and mucous membranes;
- inflammation of the digestive organs.
With Crohn's disease, the tongue often becomes completely black.
What to do. Here you cannot do without tests and medical supervision. The treatment regimen usually includes antibiotics, hormonal drugs, and immunosuppressants.
Remak's disease
Remak's disease occurs due to lead poisoning. Additional symptoms: abdominal pain, dark gray border on the gums, metallic taste in the mouth.
What to do. Urgently eliminate contact with lead and begin treatment.
How is diagnosis carried out?
The doctor begins the diagnosis with a visual examination of the patient , assesses the appearance of the tongue and the nature of the deposits, and interviews the child and mother for complaints and associated symptoms.
Next, the doctor prescribes tests and diagnostic procedures:
- clinical blood test;
- Analysis of urine;
- blood chemistry;
- culture of microflora from the oral and nasal cavity;
- stool occult blood test;
- Ultrasound of the digestive organs.
If necessary, to clarify the diagnosis, the doctor can give a referral for gastroscopy and colonoscopy .
For your information! A specialist can prescribe all diagnostic procedures in a complex, or several of them separately.
If necessary, the pediatrician gives a referral to see specialists: dentist, otolaryngologist, gastroenterologist, infectious disease specialist.
Treatment
Based on the results of the examination, the doctor makes a diagnosis and prescribes treatment.
In each individual case, the treatment complex is selected individually based on the reasons for the formation of black deposits on the tongue, the patient’s age and the presence of concomitant diseases.
Treatment of black plaque:
- If the cause of the formation of black deposits is dental problems , treatment should be performed by a dentist.
- In cases where plaque has formed due to prolonged antibacterial therapy, the doctor cancels it or prescribes another drug.
- For candidiasis, antifungal drugs are prescribed (Fluconazole, Pimafucin)
- If you have stomatitis and fungal infection, rinse your mouth with antiseptic solutions (Chlorophyllipt, Hepilor).
- For gastritis, antacids (Maalox) and drugs to enhance the protective properties of the gastric mucosa are prescribed .
- In case of vitamin deficiency, are prescribed .
- If the cause of the black plaque is poisoning, it is recommended to take sorbents (Enterosgel, Polysorb, activated carbon).
If necessary, the doctor prescribes additional medications:
- probiotics (Acipol, Linex, Bifidumbacterin) and prebiotics (Duphalac, Lactusan) to populate the intestines with beneficial microorganisms and stimulate the production of your own healthy microflora;
- interferons to strengthen the immune system (Cycloferon, Kagocel).
Important! The specialist also gives mother and child recommendations on nutrition and oral hygiene, which must be strictly observed during the period of active treatment and after it.
conclusions
- there are both pathological and non-pathological causes of darkening of the tongue in a young child;
- plaque formation may be accompanied by alarming symptoms, such as vomiting and fever, or may occur without the appearance of additional symptoms and complaints;
- if the plaque does not disappear on its own, but appears again after cleaning the tongue, you should make an appointment for the child to see a doctor;
- Treatment can be prescribed only after a comprehensive examination and clarification of the causes of darkening of the tongue;
- the appearance of the taste organ will return to normal when the causes of the formation of black plaque are eliminated.
“Black hairy tongue” - what kind of disease is this?
“Black hairy tongue” is a pathology, the cause of which has not been fully elucidated by specialists. The clinical picture of the symptom is as follows: the tip of the tongue does not change its shade, and closer to its middle characteristic “dark-colored papillae” appear.
The condition is accompanied by the formation of a black plaque. Treatment of such a symptom involves a comprehensive examination of the child, identification and treatment of all abnormalities in his body.
Features of the disease:
- symptoms of “black hairy tongue” may appear and disappear suddenly;
- the pathology may be accompanied by a feeling of dry mouth and changes in taste sensations;
- established causes of “black hairy tongue” include dysbiosis, candidiasis, thrush, long-term use of antibiotics and chronic pathologies of the digestive system;
- When treating the disease, antiseptic drugs are used to treat the oral cavity (the drugs prevent infections).
