Question
A one and a half-year-old child experienced partial disappearance of the tongue coating, which then expanded to the entire coating, with the tongue appearing red and recurring episodes of tongue coating disappearance. What could be the disease? How should it be treated?
Answer
The partial disappearance of a child’s tongue coating, followed by its expansion to the entire coating, with the tongue appearing red and recurring episodes of tongue coating disappearance, may indicate “geographic tongue” (migratory glossitis). Geographic tongue is a circular lesion on the back of the tongue that resembles a map in appearance, actually being a superficial chronic desquamative glossitis of the mucous membrane. The condition typically does not present with obvious conscious symptoms, but sometimes may cause a decrease in appetite, and eating irritating food may cause tongue pain. Currently, there is no specific treatment method. Sometimes, oral vitamin B medications can improve the condition, but some children may experience recurrence after stopping the medication. Recently, some patients have found that using zinc supplements can make geographic tongue disappear, so zinc supplements can be tried; however, recurrence may occur after stopping the medication.