Question: What Causes a Swollen Tongue?
Because a swollen tongue can sometimes be an indication of an emergent condition it is important to find the culprit and get help when needed.
Answer:
The following are conditions that may cause a swollen tongue. These conditions are not necessarily emergent but may require medical intervention:
- trauma (including burning your tongue by eating food that is too hot)
- sores on the tongue (usually caused by a virus, for example, herpangina)
- strep infections
- cancer (such as tongue cancer, leukemia, or neurofibromatosis)
- genetic disorders such as down's syndrome or Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome
- Certain diseases like acromegaly (giantism), hypothyroidism, amyloidosis
- rhabdomyolosis (the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue)
- pernicious anemia
- chronic vitamin B3 deficiency
- Kawasaki disease
Emergent conditions:
You should see a doctor immediately if your swollen tongue is accompanied by difficulty breathing, drooling, or swallowing difficulties.
- an allergic reaction - tongue swelling can be a pre-cursor to a life threatening condition called anaphylactic shock
- epiglottitis - an infection that can cause tongue and throat swelling usually in small children, a tale-tale symptom is drooling
You can try using our symptom checker if you're not sure what is causing your tongue to swell but if symptoms persist or get worse consult your doctor right away.
Source:
Medline Plus. Tongue Problems. Accessed: April 26, 2010 from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003047.htm
