Geographic Tongue

My boy can't win with his mouth. First he has decalcification on his top 4 teeth now he has geographic tongue. I didn't take him to his ped but I described it over the phone to him and he said that he is 95% sure that that is what he has. He has patches on his little tongue that don't have that white coating, almost looks like he may have burned his tongue.

It doesnt effect him in any way (that I know of since he is 1 1/2 and doesn't say much) he is acting fine. They don't know the cause (although ped said it could get worse when hes sick, hes not sick but is getting 4 teeth right now) and there is no treatment.

UGHHHHH being a mom is going to kill me.

Re: Geographic Tongue

I never even heard of this.

Re: Geographic Tongue

He will live a completely normal healthy life with Geographic tongue....just a little reassurance I see it ALL of the time on my patients!!!

Message edited 9/29/2006 4:10:01 PM.

Re: Geographic Tongue

Posted by BlessedBMommi

He will live a completely normal healthy life with Geographic tongue....just a little reassurance I see it ALL of the time on my patients!!!

Re: Geographic Tongue

I've never seen it go away. I do believe it is permanent. Here's some info for you from WebMD:

Background: Geographic tongue (benign migratory glossitis) is a benign condition that occurs in up to 3% of the general population. Most often, patients are asymptomatic; however, some patients report increased sensitivity to hot and spicy foods. The etiology and pathogenesis are still poorly understood. The condition affects males and females and is noted to be more prominent in adults than in children.

The classic manifestation is an area of erythema, with atrophy of the filiform papillae of the tongue, surrounded by a serpiginous, white, hyperkeratotic border. The patient often reports spontaneous resolution of the lesion in one area, with the return of normal tongue architecture, only to have another lesion appear in a different location of the tongue. Lesion activity may wax and wane over time, and patients are occasionally free of lesions. If lesions occur at other mucosal sites, the condition is termed erythema migrans.


Pathophysiology: The most commonly affected site is the tongue; however, other oral mucosal soft tissue sites may be affected. It has been reported with increased frequency in patients with psoriasis and in patients with fissured tongue. Although this is an inflammatory condition histologically, a polygenic mode of inheritance has been suggested because it is seen clustering in families. Associations with human leukocyte antigen DR5 (HLA-DR5), human leukocyte antigen DRW6 (HLA-DRW6), and human leukocyte antigen Cw6 (HLA-Cw6) have also been reported.


Frequency:


In the US: This condition has reportedly occurred in up to 3% of the general population in the United States.
Internationally: International frequency rates are similar to those reported in the United States.
Mortality/Morbidity: Geographic tongue is a benign condition.

Race: No racial or ethnic predilection is reported for this condition.

Sex: Females have been reported to be affected twice as often as males. Exacerbations have been suggested to be related to hormonal factors.

Age: Geographic tongue can affect all age groups; however, it is more predominant in adults than in children.




CLINICAL Section 3 of 9
Author Information Introduction Clinical Differentials Workup Treatment Follow-up Miscellaneous Bibliography



History:

Patients with geographic tongue may present with a burning sensation or an irritation of the tongue noted with hot or spicy foods.
Patients may report that the discomfort waxes and wanes over time, and they routinely describe that the lesions affect different areas of the tongue at different times.
Patients are occasionally concerned about the diagnosis of oral cancer, which prompts them to be evaluated, despite reporting that they have noted these lesions over many years.
Physical:

The tongue exhibits a well-demarcated area of erythema, primarily affecting the dorsum, and often extending to involve the lateral borders of the tongue.
Within the area of erythema, the normal tongue architecture is effaced, with loss of the filiform papillae and atrophy of the overlying mucosa.
Surrounding this area of erythema is a well-defined, hyperkeratotic, yellow-white border with an irregular serpiginous outline.
Similar lesions may be present concurrently on other aspects of the tongue or other mucosal sites.
Causes:

A definitive cause has not been elucidated, but lesions are seen with increased frequency in patients with psoriasis. In a study of patients with psoriasis, geographic tongue occurred in 10% of the patients, in contrast to only 2.5% of age- and sex-matched controls.
A polygenic mode of inheritance has been suggested.
No increased incidence has been noted with medication use or environmental agents

Re: Geographic Tongue

I don't know the medical side of it but in HS I dated a guy with a geographic tongue and he was a perfectly healthy normal guy with no problems from it to speak of. You wouldn't ever know he had it unless you were looking in his mouth. I'm sure its fine

Re: Geographic Tongue

I have this. It comes and goes and changes spots, but usually I don't even know it's there unless I look at my tongue. I've noticed that it flares up when I eat acidic foods like citrus and tomatoes and that can make it feel a little sore. I thought I was the only one who had it until I became a speech pathologist and started looking in lots of mouths. Now I've seen a bunch of kids with it. It's really nothing to worry about!

Re: Geographic Tongue

I ABSOLUTELY HATE to add to your satress but be careful with his decalcified teeth, they are very soft, my daughter had them in her 2 froint teeth, fell and knocked them out without much impact . start the colgate rinse it has added nutrients fore stronger teeth

Re: Geographic Tongue

We brush his teeth with a prescription Floride toothpaste from his dentist. UGH!!

Re: Geographic Tongue

I have a geographic tongue and so does my daughter. Is it hereditary?