Explore Over 11,000+ Conditions, Medications, and Symptoms.

Get a personalized feed by signing up for free.

Glossitis

by Alike Medical Team ∙ Updated on June 13, 2023

Additional names

This group contains additional names: - Abscess of tongue

General

Glossitis is an inflammation of the tongue, causing it to swell, change its color and develop a different appearance on the surface. The tongue has small papillae on its surface which contain taste buds, and when a person has glossitis, these papillae may disappear. Glossitis may cause pain and change the way the person speaks and eats. Acute glossitis is an inflammation that occurs suddenly, usually during an allergic reaction. Chronic glossitis continues to recur, and it's typically a symptom of another medical condition (herpes simplex, low iron levels). Atrophic glossitis refers to a condition in which many papillae are already lost, changing the tongue’s color and texture. The tongue appears glossy in atrophic glossitis.

7 people with Glossitis

Learn from others who are experiencing Glossitis.

statistic

Signs & symptoms

Glossitis symptoms include pain or tenderness in the tongue, swelling of the tongue, change in the color of the tongue, inability to speak, eat or swallow, and loss of papillae on the tongue’s surface.

Diagnosis

Glossitis is diagnosed in a mouth examination by a dentist or a doctor. Further tests may include saliva samples and blood tests.

Treatment

Glossitis treatment includes a combination of medications such as antibiotics and topical steroids and home care by brushing and flossing the teeth.

Note

☝ We provide information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diagnosis, procedures and lab tests. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Alike Wisdom

Instantly get answers to medical questions with our AI, built from the collective wisdom of our community facing similar experiences

pp-logo

Alike is a transformative platform that goes beyond just bringing together patients; it meticulously connects individuals based on multiple critical factors, such as age, gender, comorbidities, medications, diet, and more, fostering a community of knowledge, support and empathy.

appStoreBtngooglePlayBtn

© 2020-2024 Alike, Inc