Symptoms and Treatment for Strawberry Tongue In Children

What is Strawberry Tongue in Children?

When the tongue turns red in appearance, along with the presence of small sores, then it is dubbed as strawberry tongue. It commonly occurs in children as a sign of probable infections or diseases.

Strawberry Tongue in Children Diagnosis

For toddlers and children, it is very important to arrive at a proper diagnosis when the strawberry tongue occurrence poses a threat to his or her health.

Some of the conditions in which strawberry tongue is seen as a symptom include:

• Scarlet Fever is mainly caused by the streptococcus bacteria, thus often called Strep Throat. It is easily treated through a range of antibiotics to kill the bacteria. Scarlet Fever can be fatal if left untreated.
• Vitamin B12 or Folic Acid Deficiency can lead to strawberry tongue as well. Without these essential vitamins, the child may develop anemia. Anemic children are more prone to other health problems, prompting replenishment of the vitamin supply in the body.
• For children under the age of 5, there is a condition called Kawasaki syndrome that involves mouth, skin and lymph nodes. Strawberry tongue is one of the many signs.
• Geographic tongue can be a cause of annoyance due to appearance of white or bald patches on the tongue. It is generally painless and only lasts a week.
• The staphylococcus bacteria have lethal toxins from which a condition called bacterial toxic shock syndrome may develop. It is potentially fatal if not immediately diagnosed.

Strawberry Tongue in Children Symptoms

Strawberry tongue can be accompanied by other signs, which are symptoms of the conditions mentioned previously.

• Children suffering from strawberry tongue due to Scarlet Fever may also develop an itchy rash in the neck and face.
• Kawasaki syndrome brings indicators such as high fever, swollen lymph nodes, rashes on the abdominal area, along with swollen red tongue.
• Patients with bacterial toxic shock syndrome are reported to have severe headache, high fever, sore throat and rashes.

Treatment

• Scarlet fever finds a remedy through antibiotic treatment, which eases the strawberry tongue appearance and other symptoms. Children respond positively to antibiotics and rarely meet complications. Immediate medical care is needed to prevent the onset of fatal rheumatic fever.
• Relief from Kawasaki Syndrome is through aspirin dosage to reduce the inflammation.
• Toxic Shock Syndrome is treated through a round of antibiotics and intravenous fluids and medicines.