Tongue Warts
A normal tongue’s covering usually looks velvety. Although a few tiny bumps might be felt because of the papillae lining the tongue, it is generally smooth in texture. An abnormal growth in the tongue, commonly described as a bump, lesion or blisters in the tongue can be considered as tongue warts.
Tongue Warts Symptoms
Tongue warts can be readily seen or felt through visual inspection of the tongue area. HPV usually affect mucous linings, making the tongue an easy target for wart formation. These tongue warts are characterized by the following:
- Singular wart growth, or may be seen in multiple growths. Warts can also appear in clusters.
- Reddish protrusions, bumps or lesions on the tongue.
- Commonly found at the sides in contact with the buccal area and the tip of the tongue. The warts at the side of the tongue usually cause the most discomfort. This discomfort is caused by the constant contact with the sides of the tongue. The friction may eventually lead to the bursting of the blisters.
Tongue Warts Treatment
The treatment of tongue warts emerging from a Human Papilloma Virus is complicated. This is mainly because the disease process itself has no definite cure. The cure is supportive only, applied whenever an intervention is needed or done to limit the occurrence of the symptoms. Depending on the severity and position of the warts, available treatment options include:
- Topical antiviral creams.
- Topical analgesics or anesthetics. Used to relieve pain caused by ruptured blisters.
- Surgical removal. This is usually advised by physicians to patients who are experiencing oral obstruction due to the increase growth of the wart.
- Laser wart removal.
- Cryotherapy. Removal of the warts using freezing techniques.
- Interpheron Alpha injections.