Red spots in the tongue

From time immemorial, language examination was an important (and sometimes the only) method of diagnosing diseases. Today, when the presence of a disease can eloquently tell the laboratory analysis, doctors still say to patients: "Show the tongue." And this proves once again - the ancient method did not outlive itself. Using it, even a person without medical education may suspect something is wrong with the work of this or that body system. Consider what can be associated with red spots in the language - a fairly common phenomenon.

Viral infection

The causes of the appearance of a red spot in a language are often associated with an infection:

1. Mononucleosis is a disease of the viral nature, in which the pharynx, lymph nodes are affected, fever and changes in blood composition occur. If you feel pain when swallowing, high fever, weakness, tenderness in palpation of the lymph nodes, and besides the tongue is covered with red spots in the form of pinpoint hemorrhages (petechiae), it is possible that the organism is attacked by the virus. The defeat of the mucous tongue is observed in 2/3 cases of mononucleosis.
2. Shingles is another viral disease, accompanied by rashes on different parts of the body. If the root and tip of the tongue have red spots that itch, the reason may be just Nerpes zoster, the "relative" of the virus that causes chickenpox.
3. Kaposi's sarcoma is caused by the herpes virus and affects mostly HIV-infected people, manifesting as malignant lesions on the skin. If a red spot with a bluish tinge appears on the gums, root or tip of the tongue, while the mucosa of the palate is damaged, and the lymph nodes are enlarged, one can suspect Kaposi's sarcoma.

Bacterial infection

The appearance of specific spots on the tongue can signal bacterial infections:

1. Scarlet fever is caused by streptococcus and is accompanied by a small rash, severe fever, and sore throat. They are ill most often in childhood. The main sign that the body is attacking streptococcus is a white tongue with red spots, and they are small, while the plaque is solid and located approximately in the middle of the tongue (sometimes it covers the tongue completely).
2. Syphilis is one of the symptoms of this venereal disease: red solid ulcers (chancres) on the back of the tongue, or more precisely - of its anterior third.
3. Stomatitis , in which there may appear red spots under the tongue in the form of ulcers or aft - small, with a purulent coating. The same lesion of the mucous is observed on the inner surface of the cheeks and lips, the sores cause severe pain, especially during eating.

Other causes of red spots

With anemia (anemia), the gums and tongue acquire a very pale, hardly pink color due to a deficiency in the body of red blood cells (erythrocytes), while bright red spots appear on the tongue.

"Geographical language" or migrating erythema of the oral form is a very rare disease, which is accompanied by the appearance of red spots in the tongue, clearly visible against the background of white rims and not causing painful sensations. This picture resembles the continents and oceans on the map, because the disease and received a specific name. And although erythema itself is caused by bacterial or viral infection (doctors have not yet found the exact answer), "geographical language" may indicate various disorders of internal organs (GIT or cardiovascular system, for example). Often, such drawings appear in the language of pregnant women.

It is worth noting that in a healthy person, the tongue, as a rule, is pink without spots and redness, a small amount of white plaque is permissible. If you see something very unlike in the mirror, it makes sense to apply for a diagnosis to the therapist. If the mucosa of the mouth hurts - you should visit the dentist.