Black language. What, why and how?

Today's ideas about the pathogenesis (mechanism of formation) of black language are reduced to the fact that the growth of the papillae of the tongue shell occurs under the influence of chronic stimuli and reflex changes in the digestive tract.

Staining of affected areas of the tongue mucosa is the result of the life activity of saprophytic microorganisms.

In which cases the language turns black, you can not always understand. There may be many reasons for this symptom, but not all causes should cause parental anxiety. The first thing you can exclude is a drink with coloring elements, as well as food. The child could have eaten anything, while you were busy. However, practice has shown that fruit and berries compotes are more often the cause. It's not necessarily currants, blueberries, blackberries. Even red fruits can produce black deposits on the tongue. In this case, systematic cleaning of the language is sufficient to return the language to the former color.

What are the symptoms?

If the black tongue of the child, then there is a darkening of the back of the tongue, near the root. While the edges, as well as the lower surface of the tongue have traditionally remained unchanged, is clearly a scarlet color. Due to the overgrowth of the papilla mucosa, the surface of the tongue usually seems fuzzy.

The color shades of the affected area of the oral mucosa can range from clear-gray to black.

Black tongue in children progresses little by little, unnoticed for the patient, because of which many patients say that "the blackening of the tongue took place instantly." The phenomenon of black language is monitored more often in children, however, adults can get sick too. Traditionally, the black pigmentation of the tongue persists, from two to three weeks. If there is a black tongue in a child under 6 years old, then the disease is characterized by relapses.

Treatment.

Treatment of the above described disease is reduced to the elimination of the alleged cause of the disease: treatment of the digestive tract (gastritis, enteritis, colitis), intestinal dysbacteriosis, prevention of oral mastitis, prevention of dysbacteriosis by antibiotic treatment.

In other cases, the desired result in the treatment of the black tongue is tracked when prescribing vitamin preparations.

Local treatment consists in the use of "keratolytic" (a group of substances that causes peeling of the cornified layer of the mucous membrane and the skin: salicylic alcohol). Children should be treated under the supervision of an expert.

Now let's talk about the main "enemy", which can cause a black tongue, namely, gastritis.

Gastritis is a common ailment that is characterized by inflammation of the gastric mucosa. The cause of gastritis is Helicobacter pylori, intestinal bacterium, however, to promote the formation of gastritis can be malnutrition, continuous stress, smoking, alcoholism. Signs are pain in the stomach, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation. Diagnosis is based on endoscopic examination of the stomach. Treatment takes place through the appointment of a healthy diet - as well as medication - the use of antibiotics or drugs that increase or reduce the acidity of the stomach, and drugs that protect the stomach from hydrochloric acid.

Treatment includes such components as: diet, treatment with special drugs, prevention measures. Drug treatment usually leads to a decrease in increased acidity, elimination of helicobacteriosis and stimulation of the recovery process in the mucosa. The diet is prescribed together with medication. Folk methods of treatment of gastritis can be used as an alternative or to consolidate the results of the main treatment.

Remember, at the first signs of unnatural color of the tongue, you need to consult a doctor for advice.