What is geographic tongue?

4 May 2021

It is a harmless inflammatory condition of the tongue that affects its surface by leaving areas without taste buds that cause an appearance of islets with a smooth reddened texture that gives the tongue a cartographic or map-like appearance, which coined the term geographic tongue.

These are lesions that appear in one place, and then disappear and go to another area. Hence its clinical name of the benign migratory glottis.

Although its appearance seems to be caused by a serious condition, geographic tongue is not usually associated with any serious illness, nor does it cause any complications, except for certain hypersensitivity to intensely flavored condiments. It can affect people of any age, but it is more common in children, young people, and middle-aged people.

Signs and symptoms Geographic tongue

Most people with this condition do not have any symptoms, but the following may occur occasionally:

Lingual surface with reddened and smooth protruding irregular islets.
Map appearance on the surface of the tongue.
Migratory lesions that constantly change their morphology and location.
Irritation when eating spicy foods.
Tongue hypersensitivity.

This condition’s duration is variable, it can last a few weeks, several months, or even years. In addition to that, it can reappear regularly.

Geographic tongue is not usually related to any disease, but if it lasts for more than a few weeks, it is advisable to consult your doctor to rule out that it is not a sign of an underlying condition.

The possible causes of its appearance have not yet been identified, but there are some potential risks to developing it:

Psoriasis.
Vitamin B deficiency.
Alcoholism.
Smoking.
Excessive consumption of irritating foods.
Habit of eating very hot food and drinks.
Hormonal imbalances.
Stress.

Diagnosis and treatment Geographic tongue

Once your doctor analyzes your symptoms and clinical history, they will perform a physical examination that will include an exhaustive examination of your tongue to verify if there are no infections and to properly categorize your type of lesions.

Treatment focuses on controlling symptoms and relieving tongue sensitivity, so your doctor will prescribe the following medications:

Painkillers.
Antibiotics, in case of any secondary infection.
Anesthetics in oral solutions.
Antihistamines in mouthwash.
Corticosteroid mouthwash.
Vitamin B.

At ABC Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Department, we offer health care services with the highest quality and safety, from the prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and monitoring of infectious, respiratory, endocrinological, dermatological, rheumatic, nephrological, gastrointestinal, and hematological pathologies of both chronic-degenerative diseases and acute conditions, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary model.

Related centers and departments Geographic tongue

Cancer Center
Internal medicine
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

medlineplus.gov
mayoclinic.org
msdmanuals.com
cun.es
topdoctors.es
medigraphic.com
De la Teja-Ángeles E, Durán-Gutiérrez LA, Tovar-Malváez DP, et al. Eritema migrans (lengua geográfica). Acta Pediatr Mex. 2011;32(6):357-358.
Rodríguez-García R, Rodríguez-Guzmán LM. Lengua geográfica o glositis migratoria benigna en niños. Rev Mex Pediatr. 2011;78(3):118-119.
Vidal MAM, Jiménez MMC, Luna RLM. Prevalencia de alteraciones linguales y factores relacionados en niños que consultan a la Universidad de Cartagena, Colombia. Rev Odont Mex. 2013;17(4):235-239.
Reynoso LA, Mendoza NVM. Magnitud de lesiones bucales de tejidos blandos en niños de 1 a 6 años de edad de la Ciudad de México. Rev ADM. 2004;61(2):65-69.

How can we help you?

The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the ABC Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.

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Comparison of COVID-19 vaccines

Pfizer-
BioNTech

Pfizer-BioNTech

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 95% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

No Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 16 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysorbate.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, malaise, and swollen lymph nodes.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 14 days of having the complete scheme (after the administration of the 2nd dose), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

Moderna

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 94.5% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 28 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 18 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, and swollen lymph nodes in the arm in which you received the injection.

Janssen/
Johnson
& Johnson

Janssen/ Johnson & Johnson

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 72.0% in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.
85% in the prevention of severe COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives./strong>

How many doses are needed?
Only one dose in needed.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, headache, fatigue, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 28 days of having the complete scheme (the last dose applied), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from 85% serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

AstraZeneca
and
Oxford
University

AstraZeneca and Oxford University

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 82% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 56 days apart (or up to 84 days apart, if necessary).

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, and fever, which were mild to moderate in intensity and disappeared within 48 hours of vaccination.

Sputnik V

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 92% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

What is geographic tongue?

Signs and symptoms Geographic tongue

Diagnosis and treatment Geographic tongue

Related centers and departments Geographic tongue

Fuentes:

Index

Specialist in Geographic tongue