Language is a truly amazing organ. Based on his condition, we can talk about human health. It contains lymphoid formations and nerves, blood vessels and glands. When soreness occurs in the tongue, a wide variety of body functions begin to suffer. Among them - speech and touch, pushing a food coma and sucking, determining the temperature and taste of food.
Often, children complain of pain in the tongue to their parents. The fact is that in a child the mucous membrane of this organ is quite thin and tender. 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 this situation? If the child has a sore tongue, then, of course, it is best to show it to the doctor. However, not always mom and dad can do this right away. That is why they should have an idea of ​​why the tongue hurts, the reasons for this condition. Parents also need to know what should be done to save the baby from uncomfortable sensations.
Language features
In order to find out why pain in this muscular organ can occur, it is necessary to understand its purpose. So, the language functions are as follows:
- Protective. The tongue prevents the penetration of microbes and viruses through the mucosa.
- Sensitive. This body is responsible for the susceptibility of tactile, thermal, pain and taste sensations.
- Plastic The tongue helps the rapid restoration of 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 effect on the functioning of our body. That is why he needs to constantly pay attention and regularly take care of him using hygiene procedures.
From the point of view of the 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 relationship with the digestive tract and has an impact on 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 on one of its sides fuses with the mucous membrane of the mouth. The front is the body. She is able to move freely in different directions. The upper surface of the tongue is called the back.
This organ can be characterized as a litmus, indicating the presence of diseases and malfunctions of various internal organs.
Symptoms of ailments
If there are complaints from the baby, the parents begin to look for the answer to the question "why does the child have a tongue sore?" The appearance of unpleasant symptoms is promoted by various obvious and hidden causes.
Discomfort in the oral cavity, young children experience quite often. Unpleasant sensations appear suddenly, immediately affecting the overall well-being of the baby. Children have irritability and lethargy. They refuse to eat.
The way in which the baby’s tongue hurts can be characterized by three main symptoms. Among them:
- tingling sensation;
- itching
- burning.
Visually, pain manifests itself in the form of pimples, spots and bubbles appearing on the organ of speech. This occurs in 99% of all cases.
Pimples on the tongue
Why does the child have a sore tongue? Sometimes the cause are pimples that appear on this organ. It is worth noting that classic acne in the human language cannot be formed. The fact is that there are no sebaceous glands in the mucosa of this organ. But it is precisely they that are needed for the formation of a typical acne. Those formations in the language that have 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 organ of speech. This happens as a response to inflammatory processes that occur in the body. This phenomenon is accompanied by the appearance of whitish and red formations that resemble pimples. However, in reality it is nothing more than the papillae of the tongue, increased in size.
- With 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 fact that under the upper layer of the mucosa there is an accumulation of fluid in the form of small bubbles. Their filling will be transparent if infection has not occurred. Bubbles will turn white if pathogenic bacteria enter them. Sometimes the child’s tongue is red and hurts. This indicates that blood has entered the fluid. Sometimes the bubbles on the tongue open. In their place, the formation of painful sores.
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, stomatitis becomes the cause of this phenomenon. 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 pain in the form of severe itching and burning. Similar local features of stomatitis are manifested with other signs of infection. For example, symptoms of fever, conjunctivitis, intoxication, vomiting, diarrhea, skin rash, and other uncomfortable symptoms are likely.
With stomatitis, the child has a sore tongue and body temperature may rise. Often, pediatricians observe in their young patients an increase in lymph nodes, increased salivation. There is an unhealthy smell in these children. They eat poorly or completely refuse food, sleep uneasily. Also, with stomatitis, the child has a sore tongue and throat.
Treatment of viral stomatitis
Pediatricians advise parents in cases where they have the slightest suspicion of this pathology, to urgently show the baby to the doctor. And despite the fact that the treatment of viral stomatitis is simple, inaction of adults can aggravate the situation.
The pediatrician will examine a small patient, make a diagnosis and prescribe an effective medication.
If viral stomatitis is the reason that the child has a sore tongue, what should be done to rid the baby of uncomfortable sensations? Strictly follow the doctor's recommendations. Parents should know that in the treatment of this pathology, antibiotics are not prescribed. Pediatricians recommend vitamins and immunomodulatory drugs to small patients. And only in cases where stomatitis passes into the stage of relapse, potent drugs can be prescribed by a specialist.
If it is from this pathology that the child has a sore tongue, what should parents do? They should abundantly drink their child. This will prevent dehydration. The fact is that with stomatitis, very severe intoxication is often observed. And if the body continues to lose fluid, then the baby will soon become sluggish.
Local methods are also used to treat stomatitis, one of which is rinsing. For this procedure, a solution of potassium permanganate (pale pink) or an infusion of medicinal herbs such as sage and calendula are prepared. You can use decoctions of oak bark and chamomile. However, if the 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 the treatment of the mucosa with special sprays.
During the illness, the baby's daily diet should contain liquid or semi-liquid foods, various mashed potatoes, cereals, as well as milk and yoghurts. 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 the baby sore tongue? The cause may be aphthous stomatitis. Indeed, with this pathology in the tongue, as well as simultaneously on the inside of the lips and cheeks, the formation of painful sores occurs. They are represented by a yellowish-white center, which is surrounded by an inflamed red strip.
What is the cause of this disease, pediatricians can not accurately indicate. As a rule, pathology develops due to such provoking factors 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 mucous membrane;
- temperature rise;
- child refusal to eat;
- the formation of a cloudy film on the surface of ulcers.
Treatment of aphthous stomatitis
Pediatricians indicate to parents that the child can be prescribed the correct therapy only after a comprehensive examination with the participation of a dentist, allergist and gastroenterologist. But in any case, you need local treatment.
What should be done when diagnosing aphthous stomatitis in a child?
To alleviate the suffering of a small patient, doctors can prescribe him the drug "Vinylinum". This remedy is also called Shostakovsky balm. Pediatricians consider this drug an effective antiseptic that produces a regenerating and antimicrobial effect. The product contains a substance such as polyvinox. Its action is aimed at disinfecting the mucosa, excluding re-infection of the foci of damage. In this case, the drug “Vinilin” is able to eliminate pain and accelerate tissue regeneration. The balm is applied to the sores, after applying it on a gauze napkin.
A strong antiseptic agent, which has a wonderful anti-inflammatory effect, is also such an agent as “Iodinol”. It is mixed with water, used as a rinse.
For children over one year of age, pediatricians can recommend Cholisal (gel). Along with the anti-inflammatory effect, this agent 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 aphthous stomatitis, pediatricians prescribe drugs that increase local and general immunity, as well as vitamins.
Herpetic infection
If the child’s tongue hurts, the causes of this condition may lie in the occurrence of painful sores. They entail uncomfortable sensations. The main cause of the disease is the herpes virus, which begins to multiply when an immune response to foreign organisms occurs.
Pathology is manifested sharply. The child’s tongue begins to hurt and the temperature rises. The baby becomes excessively drowsy, and when examining the mucous membrane of the mouth, multiple bubbles and sores are noticeable on it. Most often, the tip of the tongue hurts the child. At the same time, the baby's saliva becomes more viscous.
In addition to the tongue, rashes affect the surface of the cheeks, lips, and also sometimes appear at the entrance to the pharynx. These vesicles are watery and very small. They are grouped on reddened mucosa. For a short time, the bubbles open. The affected areas are enveloped in a yellowish-gray film. After desquamation, painful sores occur.
Treatment of herpetic stomatitis
Pediatricians do not recommend parents to conduct an independent diagnosis of the condition of the baby. If there are symptoms of the disease, they should consult a doctor. Only he can establish the correct diagnosis.
Antiviral drugs for oral use are used to treat herpes stomatitis. A sufficiently effective remedy, according to pediatricians, is Acyclovir. It should be given to the child for a week 4-5 times a day, 200 mg. In severe cases, this drug is prescribed for administration by intravenous drip.
Such treatment should be accompanied by local treatment of ulcers. To do this, use drugs such as Zovirax and Oxolin. You can also lubricate sores with sea buckthorn oil applied on a cotton swab. To reduce the level of intoxication of the body, pediatricians recommend taking immunoglobulins in the form of Viferon and Anaferon.
Glossitis
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 effect of pathogens.
The disease can occur both in acute and in chronic form. In the latter case, the effects of exacerbations and remissions are constantly alternating.
Often glossitis in children proceeds unnoticed. The child does not complain to parents about anything. Pathology is detected by chance, during an examination of the oral cavity. In this regard, pediatricians recommend that parents periodically check the appearance of their child’s language.
The causes of glossitis are:
- Mechanical injuries. The 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 like to bite pens, pencils or bite their tongue.
- Burns in the oral cavity. They occur when you consume too hot food or drinks.
With a desquamative form of glossitis in the tongue in children, parents find strange spots that change their place and shape. With such glossitis, the child is only sometimes disturbed by a burning sensation and tingling sensation. The causes of this pathology are gastrointestinal diseases, infectious diseases, endocrine disorders, anemia and allergies. The source of this form of glossitis sometimes becomes a helminthic invasion.
One of the manifestations of inflammation of the mucous membrane of the tongue is diamond-shaped 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.
In children, catarrhal glossitis is sometimes noted, which, as a rule, proceeds 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. Uncomfortable sensations occur when talking or while eating. The tongue swells and turns red. Imprints of teeth are visible on its lateral surfaces. On the 2nd or 3rd day after the onset of the development of pathology, the tongue increases in size and becomes covered with plaque.
In children, pediatricians often note glossalgia. In this condition, the child has a sore tongue, but no visible changes in this organ are observed. Children are concerned about a burning sensation and tingling, which is either permanent or occurs periodically. A child may also complain of dry mouth, which disappears after drinking a glass of water. The cause of glossalgia is sometimes the central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, diabetes mellitus, diseases of the blood.
Glossitis treatment
The elimination of the disease should be carried out in a complex and strictly on the recommendation of a doctor.
In the absence of complaints from the child, special treatment will not be required. In the presence of pain, apply:
- sanitation of the oral cavity, for which they use decoctions of medicinal herbs (sage, chamomile), antiseptic solutions, special rinses and elixirs;
- citral solution (1%);
- applications of anestezin mixed with an oily solution of vitamin E;
- sea ​​buckthorn and rosehip oil;
- solcoseryl-dental paste;
- analgesics;
- anti-inflammatory non-steroids;
- medicines that help strengthen the walls of blood vessels;
- anti-allergic and antihistamines;
- vitamin therapy;
- phonophoresis (physiotherapy with analgesics).
Vitamin deficiency and allergy
Similar conditions also cause pain in the tongue. Vitamin deficiency most often occurs in the spring, when the child's body is especially weakened. The reason for its manifestation is a sharp lack of vitamins of one or another group. If the child has a sore tip of the tongue or other parts of it, and, in addition, red and white pimples appear on them, then this may well be a manifestation of vitamin deficiency. In addition to inflammation of the organ of speech, this pathology reveals itself by the formation of small cracks on the lips, peeling of the skin in the corners of the mouth, conjunctivitis, and the appearance of dandruff. With a lack of vitamin P in the body, in addition to bubbles and pimples in the child's tongue, loose stools are disturbing. The lack of ascorbic acid is reflected in the appearance of white formations, in bleeding gums, swelling, as well as in the presence of hemorrhages on the skin.
If, for this reason, the tip of the tongue hurts, what should the parents do? Ridding the baby of this condition is carried out by filling the lack of vitamins. This will eliminate the symptoms of the arising pathology.
Often the child’s tongue hurts due to allergic stomatitis. It can be caused by citrus and red vegetables (carrots, beets and tomatoes), cocoa, chocolate, exotic fruits (papaya, passion fruit, mango), as well as strawberries and raspberries. If a food allergy occurs in the tongue, as well as on the oral mucosa, red bubbles and spots appear. White pimples are observed at the tip of the organ of speech. To eliminate discomfort and pain, you will need to remove allergenic foods from the child’s diet.
Pain under the tongue
Sometimes finding a source of discomfort is not easy. This applies to cases when the child has pain under the tongue. How to determine the cause of this condition? As a rule, a child has a pain under the tongue of the bridle. It becomes inflamed, and this process is perfectly visible if you raise your tongue.
The bridle is a thin fold of skin that attaches the tongue to the oral cavity. If it becomes inflamed, then the child has problems talking and eating, which creates certain inconveniences.
For what reasons can a bridle under the tongue hurt? Most often this happens:
- when injuring her;
- due to the presence of infectious inflammation in the oral cavity;
- during a sore throat, when pathogenic bacteria move into the language zone;
- with stomatitis;
- due to diseased teeth, which can cause an inflammatory process;
- due to a violation of the symmetry of the hyoid bone that occurs during injuries or at birth;
- with infectious inflammation of the salivary gland;
- due to allergies;
- due to injuries of a different nature.
Symptoms of inflammatory processes in the bridle are:
- sharp pain when chewing;
- impaired breathing, speech, jaw mobility;
- temperature rise;
- sleep disturbances;
- decreased 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 salt. However, in case of serious damage, consult a doctor. This will prevent the occurrence of chronic inflammation.
During treatment, the diet of the child 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.