The tongue is truly an amazing organ. Based on his condition, we can talk about human he alth. It contains lymphoid formations and nerves, vessels and glands. When pain occurs in the tongue, a wide variety of body functions begin to suffer. Among them are speech and touch, pushing the food bolus and sucking, determining the temperature and taste of food.
Children often complain of pain in their tongues to their parents. The fact is that in a child the mucous membrane of this organ is quite thin and delicate. That is why many diseases are displayed on it. The presence of pathologies in the body is indicated by irritations and small pimples on the tongue. What should parents do in such a situation? If a child has a sore tongue, then, of course, it is best to show it to a doctor. However, not always moms and dads can do it right away. That is why they should have an idea about why the tongue hurts, about the reasons for this condition. Parents also need to know thatshould be done to relieve the baby of uncomfortable sensations.
Language functions
In order to find out why pain can occur in this muscular organ, it is necessary to understand its purpose. So, the functions of the language are as follows:
- Protective. The tongue prevents the penetration of microbes and viruses through the mucous membrane.
- Sensitive. This organ is responsible for the susceptibility of tactile, thermal, pain and taste sensations.
- Plastic. The tongue helps to quickly restore cells and the upper layer of the skin in case of mechanical damage.
- Suction. With the help of this organ, various substances enter the human body.
Language is a universal mechanism. It has a direct impact on the functioning of our body. That is why he needs constant attention and regular care for him using hygiene procedures.
In terms of anatomical structure, the tongue is a muscle, on top of which there are many nerve endings, glands, fibers, papillae and taste buds. This body has a direct connection with the gastrointestinal tract and affects its work. Our voice timbre also depends on the language.
This body consists of two parts that do not have a clear boundary between them. One of them is the back. This is the root of the tongue, which fuses with one of its sides with the oral mucosa. The front is the body. She is able to move freely in different directions. The top surface of the tongue is called the back.
This body can be described as litmus,indicating the presence of diseases and malfunctions of various internal organs.
Symptoms of ailments
When there are complaints from the baby, parents begin to look for an answer to the question "why does the child's tongue hurt?". Various obvious and hidden reasons contribute to the appearance of unpleasant symptoms.
Discomfort in the mouth small children experience quite often. Unpleasant sensations appear suddenly, immediately reflected in the general well-being of the baby. Children are irritable and lethargic. They refuse to eat.
The way a baby's tongue hurts can be characterized by three main symptoms. Among them:
- tingling;
- itch;
- burning.
Visually, the pain manifests itself in the form of pimples, spots and bubbles appearing on the organ of speech. This happens in 99% of all calls.
Pimples on the tongue
Why does a child's tongue hurt? Sometimes the cause is pimples that appear on this organ. It is worth noting that classic acne cannot form on a person's tongue. The fact is that there are no sebaceous glands in the mucous membrane of this organ. But it is they who are needed for the formation of a typical pimple. Those formations in the tongue that are in the form of pimples can appear for two main reasons:
- As a result of active division and desquamation of cells located on the surface of the mucous membrane of the organ of speech. This happens as a response to inflammatory processes that occur in the body. This phenomenon is accompaniedthe appearance of whitish and red formations that resemble pimples. However, in reality, these are nothing more than papillae of the tongue that have increased in size.
- When the stratification of the mucous membrane. This process occurs under the influence of the negative effects of viruses, bacteria and other damaging factors. A similar phenomenon leads to the accumulation of fluid in the form of small bubbles under the upper layer of the mucosa. Their filling will be transparent if infection has not occurred. The bubbles will turn white if pathogenic bacteria have entered them. Sometimes the child's tongue is red and sore. This indicates that blood has penetrated the liquid. Sometimes bubbles on the tongue break open. In their place, painful sores form.
Viral stomatitis
Often a child has a sore tongue, and at the same time pimples and sores appear on it and on the oral mucosa. As a rule, the cause of this phenomenon is stomatitis. In children, this disease most often has a viral or aphthous form.
In the first case, the child has a sore tongue, and on it, as well as in the oral cavity, you can see yellowish sores. These formations are very small in size. But, despite this, they cause painful sensations in the form of severe itching and burning. Similar local features of stomatitis appear with other signs of infection. For example, symptoms of fever, conjunctivitis, intoxication, vomiting, diarrhea, skin rashes, and other discomforts are likely to occur.
When a child has stomatitis, the tongue hurts and the body temperature may rise. Often pediatriciansobserve in their little patients an increase in lymph nodes, increased salivation. From the mouth of such children there is an unhe althy smell. They eat poorly or refuse food altogether, sleep restlessly. Also, with stomatitis, the child hurts both the tongue and the throat.
Treatment of viral stomatitis
Pediatricians advise parents in cases where they have the slightest suspicion of this pathology, urgently show the baby to the doctor. And despite the fact that the treatment of viral stomatitis is simple, the inaction of adults can aggravate the situation.
The pediatrician will examine the little patient, make a diagnosis and prescribe effective drugs.
If viral stomatitis is the cause of a child's tongue pain, what should be done to relieve the baby of discomfort? Strictly follow the doctor's recommendations. Parents should be aware that antibiotics are not prescribed in the treatment of this pathology. Pediatricians recommend vitamins and immunomodulatory drugs to young patients. And only in those cases when stomatitis passes into the stage of relapse, strong drugs can be prescribed by a specialist.
If it is from this pathology that the child's tongue hurts, what should parents do? They should give their child plenty to drink. This will prevent dehydration of the body. The fact is that with stomatitis, very strong intoxication is often observed. And if the body continues to lose fluid, then the baby will soon become lethargic.
For the treatment of stomatitis, local methods are also used, one ofwhich are rinses. For this procedure, a solution of potassium permanganate (pale pink) or an infusion of medicinal herbs such as sage and calendula is prepared. You can use decoctions of oak bark and chamomile. However, if a child’s tongue hurts at 2 years old, then it is very difficult to carry out such procedures with him. For such children, doctors prescribe mucosal treatment with special sprays.
During the period of illness, liquid or semi-liquid foods, various purees, cereals, as well as milk and yogurts should be present in the baby's daily diet. Fish and meat are used only after their grinding in a meat grinder. In addition, if the child's tongue hurts, then he should not be given cold, sour and hot drinks, chocolate and sweets, citrus fruits and solid foods.
Aphthous stomatitis
Why does my baby's tongue hurt? The cause may be aphthous stomatitis. Indeed, with this pathology, painful sores form on the tongue, as well as simultaneously on the inside of the lips and cheeks. They are represented by a yellowish-white center, which is surrounded by an inflamed red stripe.
What is the cause of this disease, pediatricians cannot accurately indicate. As a rule, pathology develops due to provoking factors such as:
- allergy (drug, microbial and food);
- malfunctions of the immune system;
- chronic pathologies of the digestive tract;
- staph infection.
The main symptoms of aphthous stomatitis are:
- burning and itching on the mucosa;
- temperature increase;
- refusal of a child fromfood;
- formation of a cloudy film on the surface of the sores.
Treatment of aphthous stomatitis
Pediatricians point out to parents that the correct therapy for a child can be prescribed only after a comprehensive examination involving a dentist, an allergist and a gastroenterologist. But in any case, local treatment will be needed.
What should be done when diagnosing aphthous stomatitis in a child?
To alleviate the suffering of a small patient, doctors can prescribe the drug "Vinilin" to him. This remedy is also called Shostakovsky's balm. Pediatricians consider this drug an effective antiseptic that produces a regenerating and antimicrobial effect. The composition of the product contains a substance such as polyvinox. Its action is aimed at disinfecting the mucosa, excluding re-infection of lesions. At the same time, the drug "Vinilin" is able to eliminate pain and accelerate tissue regeneration. The balm is applied to the sores, having previously applied it to a gauze napkin.
A strong antiseptic that has a wonderful anti-inflammatory effect is a remedy such as "Iodinol". It is mixed with water and used as a rinse.
For children older than a year, pediatricians may recommend Cholisal (gel). Along with the anti-inflammatory effect, this remedy also has an anesthetic effect. Apply the drug to the affected areas of the tongue, squeezing a small strip from the tube and gently distributing the gel on the mucosa.
In addition, with aphthousFor stomatitis, pediatricians prescribe drugs that increase local and general immunity, as well as vitamins.
Herpes infection
If a child's tongue hurts, the causes of this condition may lie in the occurrence of painful sores. They also cause discomfort. The main cause of the disease is the herpes virus, which begins to multiply when an immune reaction occurs to foreign organisms.
Pathology appears sharply. The child begins to hurt the tongue and the temperature rises. The baby becomes excessively drowsy, and when examining the oral mucosa, multiple vesicles and sores are noticeable on it. Most often, the child has a sore tip of the tongue. The baby's saliva becomes more viscous.
In addition to the tongue, rashes affect the surface of the cheeks, lips, and sometimes appear at the entrance to the pharynx. These blisters are watery and very small. They are grouped on the reddened mucosa. Within a short time, the bubbles open up. Affected areas are covered with a yellowish-gray film. After desquamation, painful sores appear.
Treatment of herpetic stomatitis
Pediatricians do not recommend parents to self-diagnose the condition of the baby. If they have symptoms of the disease, they should consult a doctor. Only he will be able to establish the correct diagnosis.
For the treatment of herpes stomatitis, antiviral drugs are used for oral administration. A fairly effective remedy, according to pediatricians, is Acyclovir. It should be given to the child for a week 4-5 times a day, 200 mg. When especiallyin severe cases, this drug is prescribed for intravenous drip.
This treatment should be accompanied by local treatment of sores. For this, drugs such as Zovirax and Oxolin are used. You can also lubricate the sores with sea buckthorn oil applied to a cotton swab. To reduce the level of intoxication of the body, pediatricians recommend taking immunoglobulins in the form of "Viferon" and "Anaferon".
Glossit
This pathology is a lesion of the mucous membrane of the tongue. Most often, glossitis is the result of injuries, a symptom of other diseases, or the result of the negative action of pathogens.
The disease can occur in both acute and chronic forms. In the latter case, the phenomena of exacerbations and remissions constantly alternate.
Often, glossitis in children goes unnoticed. The child does not complain about anything to his parents. Pathology is detected by chance, during the examination of the oral cavity. Because of this, pediatricians recommend that parents periodically check the appearance of their child's tongue.
The causes of glossitis are:
- Mechanical injury. A child may well damage the mucous membrane of the tongue with braces, special plates for bite correction, as well as the edges of the teeth or fillings.
- Bad habits. Children love to chew on pens, pencils, or bite their tongues.
- Burns of the oral cavity. They occur when eating food or drinks that are too hot.
WhenIn the desquamative form of glossitis on the tongue in children, parents find incomprehensible spots that change their place and shape. With such glossitis, the child is only sometimes disturbed by a burning sensation and tingling. The causes of this pathology are gastrointestinal diseases, infectious diseases, endocrine disorders, anemia and allergies. The source of this form of glossitis sometimes becomes helminthic invasion.
One of the manifestations of inflammation of the mucous membrane of the tongue is rhomboid glossitis. At the same time, children complain of roughness in the back of the tongue, a burning sensation and pain. The cause of this type of glossitis has not yet been identified. This pathology is considered congenital.
Children sometimes have catarrhal glossitis, which usually occurs in an acute form. This disease appears due to a bacterial infection that causes inflammation of the mucosa. In this case, the child has a sore tongue on the side or on the back. Discomfort occurs when talking or eating. The tongue swells and becomes red. On its lateral surfaces, impressions of teeth are visible. On the 2nd or 3rd day after the onset of the development of the pathology, the tongue increases in size and becomes covered with plaque.
Often pediatricians note glossalgia in children. In this condition, the child has a sore tongue, but no visible changes in this organ are observed. Children are concerned about the burning and tingling sensation, which is either permanent or occurs periodically. The child may also complain of dry mouth, which disappears after drinking a glass of water. Glossalgia is sometimes caused by diseases of the central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, sugardiabetes, ailments of the hematopoietic organs.
Glossitis treatment
The elimination of the disease should be carried out in a complex and strictly on the recommendation of a doctor.
If there are no complaints from the child, no special treatment is required. In the presence of pain apply:
- sanation of the oral cavity, for which decoctions of medicinal herbs (sage, chamomile), antiseptic solutions, special rinses and elixirs are used;
- citral solution (1%);
- applications of anesthesin mixed with vitamin E oil solution;
- sea buckthorn and rosehip oil;
- solcoseryl-dental paste;
- analgesics;
- anti-inflammatory non-steroids;
- drugs that help strengthen the walls of blood vessels;
- antiallergic and antihistamines;
- vitamin therapy;
- phonophoresis (physiotherapy with analgesics).
Vitaminosis and allergies
Such conditions are also the cause of pain in the tongue. Avitaminosis most often occurs in the spring, when the child's body is especially weakened. The cause of its manifestation is considered to be a sharp lack of vitamins of a particular group. If a child has a sore tongue tip or other parts of it, and, moreover, red and white pimples appear on them, then this may well be a manifestation of beriberi. In addition to inflammation of the speech organ, this pathology reveals itself as the formation of small cracks on the lips, peeling of the skin at the corners of the mouth, conjunctivitis, and dandruff. Atlack of vitamin P in the body, in addition to bubbles and pimples on the child's tongue, loose stools are disturbing. The lack of ascorbic acid is reflected in the appearance of white formations, bleeding gums, swelling, and also in the presence of hemorrhages on the skin.
If the tip of the tongue hurts for this reason, what should parents do? Getting rid of the baby from this condition is carried out by filling the lack of vitamins. This will eliminate the symptoms of the pathology that has arisen.
Often a child's tongue hurts due to allergic stomatitis. It can cause citrus and red vegetables (carrots, beets and tomatoes), cocoa, chocolate, exotic fruits (papaya, passion fruit, mango), as well as strawberries and raspberries. When a food allergy occurs, red bubbles and spots appear on the tongue, as well as on the oral mucosa. White pimples are observed at the tip of the speech organ. To eliminate discomfort and soreness, you will need to remove allergenic foods from the child's diet.
Pain under the tongue
Sometimes finding the source of discomfort is not easy. This applies to those cases when the child has pain under the tongue. How to determine the cause of this condition? As a rule, the child has pain under the tongue frenulum. It becomes inflamed, and this process is perfectly visible if you lift your tongue.
The frenulum is a thin fold of skin that attaches the tongue to the mouth. If it becomes inflamed, then the child has problems when talking and eating, which creates certain inconveniences.
For what reasonscan the frenulum under the tongue hurt? Most often this happens:
- when she is injured;
- due to the presence of infectious inflammation in the oral cavity;
- during a sore throat, when pathogenic bacteria move to the tongue zone;
- for stomatitis;
- due to diseased teeth that can cause inflammation;
- due to a violation of the symmetry of the hyoid bone that occurs during trauma or at birth;
- with infectious inflammation of the salivary gland;
- due to allergies;
- due to various injuries.
Symptoms of inflammatory processes in the frenulum are:
- sharp pain when chewing;
- disturbances in breathing, speech, jaw mobility;
- temperature increase;
- sleep disorders;
- loss of appetite;
- General weakness of the body.
If the pathological condition is caused by the presence of microtraumas, then you can eliminate it yourself. To do this, it is enough to offer the child to rinse his mouth with decoctions of calendula or chamomile, as well as a solution of sea s alt. However, in case of serious injuries, you should consult a doctor. This will help prevent chronic inflammation.
During treatment, the child's diet should be reviewed. This will save him from constant pain. Seasonings and spices, bitter or sour foods can provoke irritation under the tongue. That is why they will need to be excluded from the daily menu.
