“Hairy tongue” syndrome: a man ends up with his tongue covered in green hairs

If you are eating, do not continue reading this article which is accompanied by an unsavory photo… A 64-year-old American living in Ohio decided to go to the emergency room after finding that his tongue had changed color and was covered with long hairs. After a clinical examination, doctors notice that the patient’s tongue is green and covered with abnormally large papillae.

The proliferation of waste on the taste buds

He actually suffers from hairy tongue syndrome, a disorder described in scientific literature since 1557. This syndrome is linked to a mycosis resulting from a disturbance of the oral flora. This would prevent the regular renewal of the cells of the tongue, which would lead to the proliferation of waste on the taste buds. The main consequence of this mycosis is the increase in the size of the papillae. Their length (one millimeter) is multiplied by 18! Hence this impression of a tongue covered with hair.

In contrast, the cause of this patient’s tongue color change remains unexplained. Other cases of hairy tongue syndrome documented in the scientific literature also presented with a change in tongue color, without it being known why. Cases of black or red tongue have thus been described in the past. The color could be influenced by food and by the presence of micro-organisms not yet identified.

Known risk factors

Hairy tongue syndrome most often affects men who drink a lot of alcohol, smoke a lot, and consume large amounts of coffee. Taking antibiotics could also promote the occurrence of this strange syndrome. Impressive but benign, this disorder is easily treated with antifungals.

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