Identify These Diseases Through Tongue Diagnosis


Identify These Diseases Through Tongue Diagnosis


Impotance of the Tongue  in Desease  Diagnosis:

The tongue is a muscle organ involved in speech, taste, and deglutition.It serves as an easily accessible organ for evaluating a person's health and displays the body's level of hydration.According to a theory, the tongue serves as a mirror for the digestive system, reflecting any abnormalities in the stomach or intestines.

In several specific disorders, the tongue undergoes certain unique alterations.For this reason, a tongue examination is crucial and can provide some diagnostic hints.When examining the tongue, all medical professionals take into account variations in its size, shape, color, moisture, coating, papillae's nature, movements, etc.

 Appearance of tongue in some abnormal conditions:

 1) Motions of the mouth:


a) The tongue advances toward the paralyzed side when protruded in hemiplegia, a type of one-sided paralysis of the body.


b) Tremulus movement of the tongue is observed in conditions such as Parkinson's disease, delirium tremens, and thyrotoxicosis.Those who are anxious can also exhibit tremor.

c) The tongue would become paralyzed and wasted with fibrillation in cases of progressive bulbar palsy.The tongue eventually shrivels up and lays at the floor of the mouth, useless.Speech impediment and dripping of saliva are symptoms of this illness.

d) The patient may be unable to stop the protruding tongue from moving spontaneously if they have chorea, which is defined as involuntary rhythmic movements.

2) Tongue moisturization:


The tongue's level of moisture provides some insight into the body's level of hydration.Depletion of water volume causes peripheral circulatory failure, which is characterized by thirst, restlessness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, and a dry, parched tongue.

The following circumstances can cause tongue dryness.

 Diarrhea , Severe sickness in later phases, Severe uraemia, Hypovolmic shock, heat exhaustion, hyponatraemia, acute intestinal blockage, starvation, and prolonged fasting are among the conditions that can occur.

3) Alteration in tongue color:


a) Cyanosis central:


The bluish discoloration of the mucous membrane caused by a drop in blood oxygen levels is known as cyanosis.Anoxia, respiratory failure, and cardiac failure all exhibit this.The tongue, lips, and ect appear pale and blue in cyanosis.

b) Cyanosis:

This is the yellowish discoloration that results from an increase in bilirubin in the blood on all mucous surfaces of the body, including the tongue.Hepatitis, bile duct blockage, accelerated RBC breakdown, and other conditions can cause jaundice.

b) Severe hyperuremia:

This is the rise in blood nitrogenous waste products, such as urea, brought on by renal failure.The tongue turns brown at this point.
d) Acidosis keto:

This is the acidosis that is mostly associated with buildup of ketone bodies in diabetic mellitus.Here, the tongue turns dark and the mouth begins to smell like ketones.


e) Insufficient riboflavin:

A deficiency in this vitamin (vitamin B2) results in pain and lip fissures along with a megenta coloration of the tongue.

f) Deficiency in niacin:

Bright scarlet or meaty red tongue is caused by niacin (vitamin B3) and some other B complex vitamin deficiencies.

g) Anemia

It is the drop in the blood's hemoglobin percentage.A pale tongue is a sign of severe anemia.

  4) The tongue's coating:


a) Stale breath:


The primary cause of foul breath is the development of a pasty coating, or biofilm, on the tongue that harbors thousands of anaerobic bacteria and produces offensive gasses.The back of the tongue may have a thick layer on people who complain of foul breath.

a) Fever from typhoid:

Typhoid fever causes the tongue to turn white and hairy like fur.

c) The disease candidiasis;

It is a fungal infection that affects the body's mucous membranes.There will be white sores on the tongue that are peeling off.

d) White lesions that are peeling off will be present in hypoadrenalism and diabetes.
e) Syphilis secondary:

Trepenoma pallidum infection is the source of syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection.The disease's later stage is characterized by painless mucous patches and smooth, white, glystening, opalescent plaques that are difficult to scrape off.


f) Leokoplakia:

White keratotic spots on the tongue and oral cavity are visible in this instance.This ailment is precancerous.

g) Aids:

There is hairy leukoplakia in these people.

h) Infection of the kidney:

The disorder causing white furring on the tongue is called peritonium itis (inflammation of the inner layer of the abdominal cavity that covers and holds the intestines in place).

i) Serious sickness:

Acute illnesses can also cause furring.

5) Papillae:


These are tiny tongue extensions connected to taste.The healthy tongue has papillae of several types.These are some of the aberrant alterations that occur in some disorders.


a) Tongue hair:

This disorder is brought on by the extension of the filiform papillae, which is linked to dyspepsia, overall weakness, and poor dental hygiene.

b) Regional language:

The tongue has sporadic red and white flecks in this area.These lesions resemble a map of a place.The precise reason is unknown.

c) Rhomboid glossitis in the median:

The posterior midline of the tongue has a smooth, nodular red region in this condition.This is an inherited disorder.

d) A lack of nutrients:

Glossitis, or tongue irritation, is a sign of nutritional inadequacy and causes papillary hypertrophy and atrophy.
e) Migratory benign glossitis:

Multiple circular areas of desquamation of papillae form on the tongue in this inflammatory illness, which moves from area to area over the course of a few days.


f) Deficiency in riboflavin and thiamine:

Filiform and fungiform papillae that are hypertrophied are the result of vitamin deficiencies.

g) Iron and niacin deficiencies:

The papillae in this disease are atrophying.When iron deficient, smooth tongue is experienced.

h) Deficiency in Vitamin A:

This results in a tense tongue.

i) The tongue becomes smooth in cases of nutritional megaloblastic anemia.

j) Deficiency in folic acid:

This case of glossitis with macrocytic megaloblastic anemia is observed.

k) Deficit in Cyano Coblamine:

Peripheral neuropathy and macrocytic megaloblastic anemia are seen in this case of glossitis.

l) Fever with scarlet;

The dense white fur surrounding the brilliant red papillae in this streptococcal infection eventually disappears, leaving the enlarged papillae on the bright red surface—which is known as strawberry tongue.

6) Tongue ulcerations:


a) Apthous ulcer:


These circular, painful ulcers commonly occur in people who are under stress. Possibly connected to dietary allergies.Oral mucosa, tongue, lips, and so forth are typical locations.

c) Herpes simplex:

Acute vesicular eruptions caused by the herpes simplex virus are what it is.Ulcers arise from the rupture of these vesicles.

c) Cancerous ulcer:

Cancerous ulcers have firm bases and everted margins.There is also bleeding.Tobacco chewers are frequently diagnosed with tongue cancer.

d) Ulcers with Syphilis:-

The orientation of syphilitic fissures is longitudinal.Extra genital chancre is visible on the tongue in cases of primary syphilis.Multiple shallow sores on the tongue's sides and underside are observed in secondary syphilis.Gumma can be observed on the midline of the tongue's dorsum in cases of tertiary syphilis.
Dental ulcers (e):

The sharp edges of carious teeth cause these sores.




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