Tongue disease
Tongue Disease
Tongue disease refers to any medical condition that affects the tongue, an important organ in the human body involved in speech, taste, and digestion.
Pronunciation
Tongue disease: /ˈtʌŋ diːˈziːz/
Etymology
The term "tongue" originates from the Old English tunge, which has cognates in various Germanic languages. The term "disease" comes from the Old French desaise, meaning lack of ease.
Types of Tongue Diseases
There are several types of tongue diseases, including:
- Glossitis: This is an inflammation of the tongue, causing it to swell and change color.
- Oral thrush: This is a yeast infection that develops inside the mouth, often visible on the tongue.
- Oral cancer: This includes cancer that develops in any part of the mouth, including the tongue.
- Geographic tongue: This condition causes a map-like pattern to appear on the tongue.
- Black hairy tongue: Despite its name, this condition does not cause hair to grow on the tongue. Instead, it causes the tongue to appear black and hairy.
Symptoms
Symptoms of tongue diseases can vary depending on the specific condition but may include pain, swelling, changes in color or texture, difficulty swallowing, and changes in taste.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosis of tongue diseases often involves a physical examination, medical history, and potentially further diagnostic tests such as a biopsy. Treatment will depend on the specific disease and may involve medication, lifestyle changes, or in some cases, surgery.
See Also
References
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Tongue disease
- Wikipedia's article - Tongue disease
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