Smooth pink area surrounded by inflamed gray area in child with geographic tongue.
Geographic tongue. Raised gray borders delineate smooth pink areas of a child’s tongue.
CLINICAL FEATURES
The annular smooth patches on the tongue mimic erosions, the smooth areas represent villous atrophy, whilst the raised areas show inflammation similar to that found in psoriasis. Geographic tongue is usually asymptomatic in the child, but uncommonly is painful. The areas change from day to day adding to the difficulty in diagnosis. Spontaneous remissions occur.
TREATMENT
No treatment is necessary unless symptomatic. Liquid antacids will soothe the discomfort.
