“Strawberry tongue” is a term for a tongue that is swollen and bumpy.
It is not a health condition but rather a symptom of another disease.
Some health conditions that may lead to strawberry tongue includebacterial infections,viral infections, andKawasaki disease.
Pawel Wewiorski / Getty Images
If you or your child develop it, an underlying issue may be the cause.
Consult a healthcare provider for a proper diagnosis.
Causes
Strawberry tongue has been linked to several conditions, some more common than others.
The most common causes are infections, but it has also been linked to allergies and nutritional deficiencies.
Group AStreptococcus(GAS) bacteria can cause various infections, ranging from mild to severe.
Inscarlet fever, GAS produces toxins that lead to symptoms like:
Scarlet fever most often affects young children.
Its key symptomsfever, sore throat, and red rashoverlap with common illnesses likepharyngitisand tonsillitis.
However, strawberry tongue is more strongly associated with scarlet fever.
Although uncommon, TSS may present with strawberry tongue.
The more common symptoms of TSS include:
Unless treated quickly, TSS can result in amputations and death.
It is most associated withtampon use, but can occur in anyone of any gender and age.
Recent childbirth, miscarriage, abortion, or surgical wounds can also lead to TSS.
Yellow Fever
Yellow feveris a viral disease transmitted by infected mosquitos.
Other hallmark symptoms include:
Strawberry tongue is not considered a hallmark yellow fever symptom.
In these cases it may also lead toshockand organ failure.
Kawasaki Disease
Kawasaki diseaseis an acute illness brought on by a fever in young children.
It most commonly affects children ages zero to five, but can occur in children up to age 13.
Kawasaki disease is considered a rare jot down ofvasculitis, meaning it causes inflamed blood vessels.
It can affect blood vessels of the whole body, including the heart.
Strawberry tongue is a common characteristic of this illness.
Most people who get this infection are toddlers and pre-school aged.
It is rare in older children and adults.
Symptoms include:
Recalcitrant Erythematous Desquamating Disorder
Recalcitrant erythematous desquamatingdisorderis a staphylococcal bacterial infection similar to TSS.
It causes widespread inflammation, which can affect the tongue and its blood vessels, resulting in strawberry tongue.
Its symptoms include:
This infection most commonly occurs in people with weakened immune systems due to conditions likeAIDS.
Yersinia Pseudotuberculosis
Yersinia pseudotuberculosisis a bacterial infection found among farm and wild animals.
It iszoonotic, meaning it can pass from animals to humans through food and water contamination.
This infection is uncommon in humans.
Though, it has been linked to undercooked meat, unpasteurized dairy, and contaminated produce.
Yersinia pseudotuberculosis can cause a scarlet fever-like syndrome with rash, fever, and strawberry tongue.
Other possible symptoms include:
This infection is commonly mistaken forappendicitis.
The B vitamins are essential for forming healthy red blood cells and repairing tissues in the mouth.
Complications
Strawberry tongue does not pose a risk in and of itself.
However, many complications are associated with the conditions that cause it.
Bacterial infections can lead to sepsis (when an infection moves into the bloodstream).
Sepsis is a life-threatening emergency resulting in organ dysfunction, amputation, and death.
With yellow fever, some people will develop a severe illness, resulting in shock and organ failure.
The fatality rate of severe disease is between 30% to 60%.
In some severe cases, it can progress to rheumatic heart disease andheart failure.
Kawasaki disease complications include damage to the coronary (heart) arteries.
There is always a risk of a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, a life-threatening emergency.
It can occur within seconds and may develop anywhere from minutes to hours after allergen exposure.
Blood and fluid sample tests can usually pinpoint bacterial and viral infections.
Treatment
Strawberry tongue will resolve on its own once the underlying cause is effectively treated.
After injecting the EpiPen, call 911 or go to the emergency room for monitoring.
Many factors, including bacterial and viral infections and Kawasaki disease, can cause this symptom.
Getting rid of strawberry tongue involves treating the underlying cause.
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