Coated tongue

[dedacter]

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Is it normal to have coated tongue? whats reason behind coating of tongue? why its common in enteric fever?

 

[toofache32]

Coated with what?

If they just ate a lollipop that could make it purple.

A white film that rubs off leaving an erythematous base in an otherwise sick person is most likely Candida.

If its darker brown/black in the middle of the tongue, doesn't rub off, and is mushy/hairy (not maculo-papular) it's likely Hairy Tongue. I think this is due to elongated filiform papillae (or is it fungiform?) when they fail to slough normally. I can't remember why it happens, but it's mainly in people who are bedridden or have other chronic illnesses, and also people who use a lot of antacids for some reason.

Also on the list is Lichen Planus, geographic tongue, leukoplakia, infections (candida,syphilis). I'm sure the list could go on and on unless you give us more info.

 

[Yosh]

Just along these lines....my brother-inlaw had a coated tongue for 3 months..and they couldn't figure out what was causing it...they treated him for thrush, and a bunch of different antibiotics to no avail...

one day when he was waiting to see the doctor, and she noticed he was chewing cinnamon gum...and low and behold...the coating was an allergic rxn to the cinnamon, and she instructed him to stop chewing it..and the tongue cleared...

Random...and hubmling as a new doc..as there are just soo many things we still need to learn...its all part of internship...

but that was my .02

 

[toofache32]

...the coating was an allergic rxn to the cinnamon, and she instructed him to stop chewing it..and the tongue cleared...

I've seen that three times, but then again I'm a dentist and that's the stuff I do. One was in a guy who said he had a "toothache" when he ate cinammon candy...but he had no teeth.

 

[dedacter]

Coated with what?

If they just ate a lollipop that could make it purple.

A white film that rubs off leaving an erythematous base in an otherwise sick person is most likely Candida.

If its darker brown/black in the middle of the tongue, doesn't rub off, and is mushy/hairy (not maculo-papular) it's likely Hairy Tongue. I think this is due to elongated filiform papillae (or is it fungiform?) when they fail to slough normally. I can't remember why it happens, but it's mainly in people who are bedridden or have other chronic illnesses, and also people who use a lot of antacids for some reason.

Also on the list is Lichen Planus, geographic tongue, leukoplakia, infections (candida,syphilis). I'm sure the list could go on and on unless you give us more info.

Ok agreed , but why papilla fail to slough?
why furred tongue occurs in chronic smokers?