Which doctor treats glossitis of the tongue in adults and children

The tongue is an organ that not only helps us enjoy food and conversations; its structure and functionality allow specialists to identify many diseases of patients. For example, problems with the heart and lungs are projected onto the area of the top of the tongue in the form of redness and cracks, the surface of its back allows us to judge diseases of the liver and spleen, the root of this organ tells about problems with the stomach, and the side areas about the condition of the kidneys. Therefore, in case of any painful conditions, it is worth contacting a specialist to clarify the problem. There are several doctors whom you can contact in case of suspicious conditions of our speech organ. By the nature of the plaque, smell, color, and patient complaints, the doctor can identify various, often deeply hidden diseases and determine whether there is a certain pathology.

How to treat candidal glossitis - causes, symptoms, treatment methods

Glossitis is an inflammation of the tissues of the tongue, which can be either an independent disease or a symptom of another pathology.
Read on to learn more about the causes of folded glossitis in children, diagnostic methods and treatment therapy. Classification of glossitis:

diamond-shaped (median);
desquamative;
deep;
folded;
Gunter's;
interstitial.

In addition, a distinction is made between chronic glossitis and acute glossitis with pronounced symptoms.

Glossitis in children

This disease, like geographic tongue, is diagnosed quite often in children. The pathology, as a rule, is asymptomatic and is detected accidentally during examination for another disease.

Causes of glossitis in children:

violations of personal hygiene rules;
the body's reaction to the dental filling material;
eating hot or cold food;
helminthic infestation;
gastrointestinal diseases (diamond-shaped glossitis);
infectious and colds.
atopic dermatitis.

Choosing a specialist depending on symptoms

Which specialist will help eliminate the emerging disease?

Consultation with a periodontist is needed when the periodontal tissues are damaged, with pathologies of the gums, ligaments, bones, where the root of the causative unit is located. If the patient undergoes regular preventive examinations, the risks are minimized.
When the disease is caused by vitamin deficiency, you should visit a therapist. If the speaking organ trembles, a stroke or heart attack can be suspected. The problem is dealt with by therapists and cardiologists.
If your tongue hurts due to stomatitis, make an appointment with the dentist. He will prescribe appropriate treatment.
When a case of illness is associated with improper functioning of the digestive system, consultation with a gastroenterologist will be required.
In case of glossalgia, the patient will be referred to a neurologist.
An infectious disease specialist can handle diseases caused by infections.

Ailments of the muscular organ and oral mucosa are often caused by injuries, inflammatory processes, in particular of the lymph nodes, anemia, allergic reactions, lichen, glossitis, and damage to nerve endings. Do not self-medicate, consult a doctor in a timely manner!

Symptoms of desquamative glossitis during pregnancy

Against the background of hormonal changes, pregnant women most often develop desquamative glossitis. The cause of the malfunction in the body is the small amount of vitamins and microelements entering the body. It is this deficiency that gives impetus to the emergence and development of pathological changes. Poor circulation, enlarged uterus and gastrointestinal diseases are factors predisposing to the development of the disease.

Treatment of glossitis in an expectant mother should consist of safe medications.

On our website Dobrobut.com you can make an appointment and find out which doctor treats glossitis of the tongue in adults.

Symptoms

Very often, symptoms can tell you which doctor you need to see if you first pay attention to the condition of the tongue. For example:

Pallor may be caused by taking a course of antibiotics or vitamin deficiency;
Trembling may indicate multiple sclerosis and stroke;
When cultured, a curdled coating will indicate candidal stomatitis;
Purple color signals disorders of the circulatory system;
Swelling of the back of the tongue on the right is characteristic of liver dysfunction, on the left - the work of the spleen;
Dry cracks appear in diseases of the stomach;
Yellow-green color signals an exacerbation of peptic ulcer disease;
The tongue has become less mobile;
Worried about irritation and itching;
There is an unpleasant odor;
Weeping erosions have occurred;
Cracks, swelling, spots appeared.

Tongue diseases can be caused by injuries, enlarged lymph nodes, inflammation due to infection, malignant formations, allergic reactions, anemia, viral ulcers, glossitis, lichen, smoking, alcohol, etc. A separate conversation about the fashionable piercing today, the consequences of which can bring a lot of concern . For example, during the procedure, nerve endings may be damaged; when the puncture is not performed correctly, pathogenic microbes may enter the wound, which will lead to inflammation and suppuration. An allergic reaction to the metal may also occur.

Acute glossitis

Here you need to explain in more detail which symptoms require urgent medical attention. There are many types of glossitis, and often their symptoms are similar.

Catarrhal glossitis is manifested by inflammation of the mucous membrane with swelling and redness. Caused by bacteria, a complication of candidal stomatitis, smoking, acute respiratory infections, influenza, alcohol, caries, and can signal gastrointestinal diseases.
Ulcerative: It can be recognized by a dark gray plaque, bleeding ulcers and an unpleasant odor from the mouth. It signals ulcerative necrotic stomatitis and especially develops with decreased immunity.
Abscess: develops in case of injury to the tongue, it swells, turns red, becomes painful, breathing may be difficult, and swelling increases.
Mycotic: if a white cheesy coating appears on the back of the organ, this indicates mycotic glossitis; it appears when immunity is reduced.
Desquamative: signals problems with the circulatory/digestive system, kidney disease, dysbacteriosis, metabolic disorders. It manifests itself as itching and burning, mild soreness, and red polishing spots.
Herpetic glossitis: against the background of acute respiratory infections, hypothermia and stress, it is visually manifested in the appearance of bubbles on the mucous membrane, which, when bursting, turn into painful ulcers. The temperature rises, the head hurts, joint pain torments.

With glossitis, the tongue hurts and burns, tissues swell, speech becomes difficult, salivation is impaired, and it becomes difficult to chew food.

Chronic glossitis

It also manifests itself in several forms:

Folded: it is characterized by multidirectional folds and is often hereditary.
Rhomboid: Appears as a diamond-shaped area of inflammation protruding at the base, with a smooth, red texture.
“Geographical”: starting with a small gray spot, it grows over time, the spots partially merge, foci appear among them, the surface looks like a map, there is almost no pain.
“Black hairy” tongue: causes sensations of a foreign body in the mouth due to the proliferation of filiform papillae, their appearance darkens to black. Smoking, alcohol, and germs can cause the problem.
Leukoplakia: thickening of the mucosa, predominantly affects men over 50 years of age. It can be caused by smoking, injury, inflammation, and can be hereditary. People infected with HIV develop a special, “hairy” leukoplakia, recognized as an early symptom of AIDS.

If glossitis is suspected, bacterial culture is usually performed, after confirmation of the diagnosis, rinsing with antiseptics is prescribed, anesthetics are used for pain, and herbal rinsing is used for mild inflammation. When it comes to phlegmon of the tongue, they resort to the help of a surgeon when the necrotic tissue is removed.

Clinical manifestations of the disease

Change in color of the tongue - from pale pink to crimson.

Change of size. With this pathology, an increase in the size of the tongue due to swelling of the mucous membrane is often observed. Edema occurs due to inflammatory processes, in which blood circulation increases and vascular permeability increases. The most pronounced swelling is diagnosed with glossitis, the cause of which is an allergy.

Deformation of the tongue is possible with phlegmonous glossitis with the formation of abscesses.

The presence of folds occurs with folded glossitis.

Symptoms of desquamative glossitis are the alternation of hyperemic areas with ulcerative manifestations.

Treatment

All of the above diseases of our speech organ have similar symptoms, characterized by plaque, redness, swelling, changes in color, shape and erosion. And only a specialist can determine what kind of disease has affected this organ, after conducting a series of studies. Therefore, based only on the described symptoms, you should never self-medicate, which can significantly worsen the condition and complicate the recovery process.

Usually, ointments (painkillers, antifungals), antiseptic solutions, and wound healing agents are used. For viral diseases, general treatment is added to local treatment.

Diseases of the tongue can indicate to a specialist internal diseases that have not yet discovered themselves. Find out which doctor treats tongue and seek help for any of the above symptoms.

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Diagnostics

Most often, patients with changes in the color, shape and size of the tongue are in no hurry to see a specialist. The disease is usually diagnosed accidentally. This can happen at an appointment with a dentist, therapist, otolaryngologist or gastroenterologist.

The diagnosis is made after examining the patient and obtaining the results of additional studies. The latter include: bacteriological examination of a smear, general blood analysis and biochemistry, blood tests for HIV, syphilis and TORCH infections, as well as consultations with an allergist, hematologist, gastroenterologist and immunologist.

Differential diagnosis of glossitis is carried out with:

lichen planus;
secondary syphilis;
flat leukoplakia;
gastrointestinal diseases.

Which doctor should I contact?

Almost all internal problems leave a mark on the tongue, especially if they are associated with microflora (this includes staphylococci, spirochetes, fungi, streptococci). In a painful condition, there is usually an infection in the form of fungi, viruses, and bacteria. Independent diseases of the tongue, independent of internal pathologies that cause the inflammatory process, do not appear often; they are mainly associated with other organs, which makes it possible to identify internal problems that have not yet manifested themselves.

Dentist: the tongue may hurt, burn, and disturb the mucous membrane, in cases associated with teeth and gums. It can rub the denture, cause inflammation of a bad tooth, incorrect filling, periodontal disease, and so on.
Otolaryngologist, or simply ENT doctor. He will examine the oral cavity and larynx for sore throat, tonsillitis and other inflammatory diseases.
Therapist. If there are no obvious reasons, you can go to him first. The doctor will try to determine what the problem is and, if necessary, refer you to a specialist or for tests.
Endocrinologist. Sometimes these diseases may well be the result of a malfunction of the endocrine system.

How to treat candidal glossitis

During treatment, doctors recommend excluding salty, spicy, and hot foods from the diet, since high temperatures and irritating substances reduce the quality of treatment.

Antiseptic solutions, local anesthetics, healing agents, multivitamin preparations and herbal decoctions are the basis for conservative treatment of glossitis. In addition, it is necessary to normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and sanitize the oral cavity. Surgical treatment of glossitis is very rarely resorted to. Villous and phlegmonous glossitis may be indications for surgery.

Make an appointment with an experienced doctor and find out how to treat candidal glossitis and what traditional medicine recipes will help in this case. Reception is conducted by specialists with many years of experience.

What to look for during a self-examination

Remember that dental treatment is the key to the health of the whole body. To avoid complications of the oral cavity, you should undergo regular preventive examinations. Caries, gingivitis, periodontal disease, detected at an early stage, can be successfully treated.

Examine your mouth yourself, especially after long courses of antibiotics. If any warning signs appear, make an appointment with your doctor.

Trembling of a muscle organ may indicate multiple sclerosis;
Plaque with cheesy particles is candidal stomatitis;
If the circulatory system is disrupted, the surface of the mucous membrane becomes purple;
Swelling in the mouth, in particular on the back of the tongue, indicates that not everything is in order with the spleen and liver;
Gastrointestinal diseases are expressed by dry cracks;
The cause of green-yellow plaque is most often an exacerbation of peptic ulcer disease;

Do not ignore if your tongue and oral mucous membranes are itchy, or if they are irritated. An alarming signal is bad breath, weeping erosions, and spots. A dangerous symptom is a tumor. For all diseases, you need to consult a doctor.