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Is A Small Brown Spot On The Tongue A Sign Of Some Illness In A Child?
Question: Hi Doctor
I have noticed been noticing a small brown spot on my 6 year old son's tongue. Earlier it was a dot but now it has become a spot. He has a habit of thumb sucking and weight is 18.8 kg, otherwise looks normal. Kindly advise
I have noticed been noticing a small brown spot on my 6 year old son's tongue. Earlier it was a dot but now it has become a spot. He has a habit of thumb sucking and weight is 18.8 kg, otherwise looks normal. Kindly advise
Brief Answer:
Get checked for nutritional deficiency
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Most such spots are benign e.g., nutritional deficiency, fungal infection, normal hyperpigmentation, HPV warts, etc. They appear and disappear on their own. It is good sign that child looks normal.
What we can do on our part is to check the child for any nutritional deficiency like iron, calcium, vitamin D deficiency with a blood test to check their levels. Also check out if he is drinking clean water. Children must not be exposed to throat/tongue irritants like hot or cold foods, smoke or any other irritant like pan/gutka etc.
If its growing quickly then get it checked by an ENT surgeon. He may excise (cut) it and send it for biopsy and it will confirm the diagnosis.
Hope it helps. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Dr Vaishalee
Get checked for nutritional deficiency
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Most such spots are benign e.g., nutritional deficiency, fungal infection, normal hyperpigmentation, HPV warts, etc. They appear and disappear on their own. It is good sign that child looks normal.
What we can do on our part is to check the child for any nutritional deficiency like iron, calcium, vitamin D deficiency with a blood test to check their levels. Also check out if he is drinking clean water. Children must not be exposed to throat/tongue irritants like hot or cold foods, smoke or any other irritant like pan/gutka etc.
If its growing quickly then get it checked by an ENT surgeon. He may excise (cut) it and send it for biopsy and it will confirm the diagnosis.
Hope it helps. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Dr Vaishalee
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you Maam
I would like to know, why is the biopsy done?
If it is something serious, will the child show some other symptoms as well? The spot has started increasing this April and since few days there is some white substance on his tongue.......otherwise he is eating and playing normal
Thanks
Regards
I would like to know, why is the biopsy done?
If it is something serious, will the child show some other symptoms as well? The spot has started increasing this April and since few days there is some white substance on his tongue.......otherwise he is eating and playing normal
Thanks
Regards
Brief Answer:
Looks benign, not serious
Detailed Answer:
Hi again
From your description it looks benign. White coating could just be milk residue on tongue. But in your case, it seems to be oral candida. Its nothing to be worried about. Maybe it happened after antibiotic intake. If you can upload a photo of the spot, I will be better able to narrow the diagnosis.
If something serious then other symptoms show up like rapid weight loss, fatigue, fever, rapidly increasing size in few days, irregular border of the spot, irregular colour of the spot.
Biopsy is done to study the cells of the spot under microscope. It will show if there is any germs, inflammation, cancer cells, etc.
Dr Vaishalee
Looks benign, not serious
Detailed Answer:
Hi again
From your description it looks benign. White coating could just be milk residue on tongue. But in your case, it seems to be oral candida. Its nothing to be worried about. Maybe it happened after antibiotic intake. If you can upload a photo of the spot, I will be better able to narrow the diagnosis.
If something serious then other symptoms show up like rapid weight loss, fatigue, fever, rapidly increasing size in few days, irregular border of the spot, irregular colour of the spot.
Biopsy is done to study the cells of the spot under microscope. It will show if there is any germs, inflammation, cancer cells, etc.
Dr Vaishalee
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi Ma’am
I have attached a picture for your reference.
Thanks
Regards
I have attached a picture for your reference.
Thanks
Regards
Brief Answer:
Its not cancer
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
From the photo its not cancer.
Its iron deficiency as I can see paleness of tongue and milk residue. Milk also reduces iron absorption from gut. It doesnot seem to be Candida. Check out for blood iron levels in a blood test. Possibly it will get better with iron supplements like syrup Dexorange 1 tsp 2 times a day for 2-3 months.
Dr Vaishalee
Its not cancer
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
From the photo its not cancer.
Its iron deficiency as I can see paleness of tongue and milk residue. Milk also reduces iron absorption from gut. It doesnot seem to be Candida. Check out for blood iron levels in a blood test. Possibly it will get better with iron supplements like syrup Dexorange 1 tsp 2 times a day for 2-3 months.
Dr Vaishalee
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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