Question
At around seven or eight months old, the tongue has no coating, and sometimes there are white and red spots. What should I do?
Answer
A child may start showing a tongue-poking-out phenomenon around seven or eight months old, with the tongue surface lacking coating and occasionally displaying white or red spots. Parents should pay attention to whether the child’s oral mucosa is damaged and can give the child a multivitamin B or zinc sulfate preparation to supplement nutrition. If the child has iron deficiency anemia, iron supplements should be taken. For children with low stomach acid, oral dilute hydrochloric acid can be taken to regulate. If there is a candidiasis infection, nystatin can be used for treatment. If the child is diagnosed with hand, foot, and mouth disease, parents should immediately cooperate with the doctor for treatment and pay attention to gastrointestinal decompression and good hygiene habits. Parents should also be mindful to avoid picky eating and maintain a reasonable diet habit.