symptoms

Red tongue - Causes and Symptoms

Definition

The red tongue is a common symptom of numerous pathological conditions.

When the lingual mucosa is more reddened than usual and is thinned, shiny and very smooth (not slightly rough as in normal conditions), it is possible that at the origin there are nutritional deficiencies (especially of vitamins B12, folic acid, niacin, iron or zinc). This situation is found, for example, during therapies with antibiotics, which alter the intestinal bacterial flora and can make it difficult to absorb vitamins and other nutrients.

In some cases, the tongue may look like a strawberry, both in color and shape. Possible cause is inflammation (glossitis), in which the tongue is reddish and with enlarged taste buds that dot the surface. The glossitis also causes burning, desquamation, alteration of the perception of taste and pain that is accentuated with chewing. The "strawberry" tongue can be found in association with scarlet fever and other exanthematic diseases, such as measles and rubella. Another condition that can cause the appearance of the red tongue is Kawasaki syndrome, a disease that generally occurs in children under the age of 5 years.

Sometimes, this symptom is the consequence of an irritation due to xerostomia (or oral dryness), to wounds caused by pointed teeth or prostheses, or to the ingestion of spicy and too hot foods.

Other factors that can make the tongue redden include allergic reactions and drug intoxications.

The language with a geographical map (or migrating erythema) is an alteration that radically modifies the superficial part of the lingual mucosa, causing the appearance of several red patches that join together, making it similar to a map. This condition is due to causes not yet known, but is sometimes accompanied by other inflammations of the body (eg infectious diseases).

Possible Causes * of Red Tongue

  • Food Allergy
  • Contact allergy
  • Kawasaki disease
  • Measles
  • Rubella
  • Scarlet fever
  • Sjögren syndrome