
|
Channels
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
Medical Health Encyclopedia
Geographic tongue
From Healthscout's partner site on allergy, HealthCentral.com
Geographic tongue is a map-like appearance of your tongue due to irregular patches on its surface. Alternative Names
Patches on the tongue; Tongue - patchy; Benign migratory glossitis; Glossitis - benign migratory Causes, incidence, and risk factors The specific cause of geographic tongue is unknown, although vitamin B deficiency may be involved. Other causes may include irritation from hot or spicy foods, or alcohol. The condition appears to be less common in smokers. The pattern on the surface of the tongue may change very rapidly. This pattern change occurs when there is a loss of the tiny, finger-like projections, called papillae, on the tongue's surface. This makes areas of the tongue flat. These areas are said to be "denuded." Denuded areas may persist for more than a month.
Review Date: 02/28/2011 A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). ![]() ![]() | |||||||||||||||||
|
Search
Health Tools
Featured Conditions
Resources
Find a Therapist
PR Newswire
|
New Features
|
||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||