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Suggest Treatment For Recurring Itchy Tongue In A 9 Year Old
Question: My 9 year old son has been experiencing an itch tongue on and off for several months. Sometimes the itching is so severe he is in tears, can sleep or focus. He has been diagnosed with thrush twice in the past 2 months and has taken diflucan twice each for 5 days. His tongue is again extremely itchy with white on the tip with a large crack ( fissure). I am quite frustrated! He does suffer from asthma and has allergies to nuts. He has not had to use his inhaler for quite a while and when he does we rinse and clean the mouth after. I'm worried he may have a more serious condition or week immune system. He eats ok nut loves carbs, cheese, and meet and takes daily supplements ( multi-vitamin, omegas, vitamin 3, and whole foods supplement). Do you have any advice or thoughts?
Brief Answer:
Get done immunoglobulin levels.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for your question on HCM.
I can understand your situation and problem.
In my opinion following are the possible causes for your son's condition.
1. Immune deficiency syndrome.
2. Hairy leukoplakia (caused by ebstein barr virus).
3. Fungal infection (candida).
In children, immunoglobulin deficiency can cause oral ulcers and infection. So better to rule out this by testing for total IgE, I'm and IgE.
Hairy leukoplakia is oral manifestation of ebstein barr virus (EBV) infection. In this whitish patch occurs on tongue. So we also need to rule out this. For the diagnosis of EBV, tissue sample is must. So you need scrapping from the whitish area on tongue.
Oral candidiasis is common in asthma patients due poor inhaler technique. But possibility of this is less in his case as he is rinsing his mouth well after use of inhaler. For the diagnosis of this scrapping from the white lesion is required.
So in my opinion you should consult pediatrician and discuss all these, get done
1. Immunoglobulin levels
2. Microscopic examination of scrapping from the white area on tongue.
Hope I have solved your query.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.
Get done immunoglobulin levels.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for your question on HCM.
I can understand your situation and problem.
In my opinion following are the possible causes for your son's condition.
1. Immune deficiency syndrome.
2. Hairy leukoplakia (caused by ebstein barr virus).
3. Fungal infection (candida).
In children, immunoglobulin deficiency can cause oral ulcers and infection. So better to rule out this by testing for total IgE, I'm and IgE.
Hairy leukoplakia is oral manifestation of ebstein barr virus (EBV) infection. In this whitish patch occurs on tongue. So we also need to rule out this. For the diagnosis of EBV, tissue sample is must. So you need scrapping from the whitish area on tongue.
Oral candidiasis is common in asthma patients due poor inhaler technique. But possibility of this is less in his case as he is rinsing his mouth well after use of inhaler. For the diagnosis of this scrapping from the white lesion is required.
So in my opinion you should consult pediatrician and discuss all these, get done
1. Immunoglobulin levels
2. Microscopic examination of scrapping from the white area on tongue.
Hope I have solved your query.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Thank you so much for detailed answer and advice! I am going to contact his pediatrician asap, but I'm also thinking i should probably schedule an appointment with a specialist who may be more experienced in addressing these possible conditions. Do you feel this is necessary? If so, what type of specialist would be best?
Thanks again for your reply!
Thanks again for your reply!
Brief Answer:
Consult immunologist.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
Yes, you should definitely consult good pediatrician.
You should also take appointment with immunologist.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having any further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wishing good health to your child.
Thanks.
Consult immunologist.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
Yes, you should definitely consult good pediatrician.
You should also take appointment with immunologist.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having any further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wishing good health to your child.
Thanks.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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