Glossitis

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Tongue

Tongue inflammation; Tongue infection; Smooth tongue; Glossodynia; Burning tongue syndrome

Symptoms of glossitis may appear quickly or slowly over time. They include:

• Difficulty with chewing, swallowing, or speaking
• Smooth surface of the tongue
• Sore and tender tongue
• Tongue color changes
  • Pale, if caused by pernicious anemia
  • Fiery red, if caused by a lack of other B vitamins
• Tongue swelling

An examination by a dentist or health care provider shows:

• Finger-like bumps on the surface of the tongue (called papillae) may be missing
• Swollen tongue (or patches of swelling)

Your health care provider may ask detailed questions about your medical history and lifestyle to find the cause of tongue inflammation if there was no obvious injury or other cause.

Blood tests may be done to rule out other medical conditions.

Review Date: 03/05/2011
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; and Seth Schwartz, MD, MPH, Otolaryngologist, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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