A friend of mine has a swollen tongue and he cannot eat, drink or even swallow his own saliva? its been like this for the past two days, he says the pain is so bad that it makes his eyes water, and he feels a burning sensation in his tongue. what could this be? how can this happen? apparently its fungi :S or something like that, but what can he eat? as he finds it very difficult to swallow… ? can someone help please?

Answered by: Maria/ MD Health Forum. com Team

A swollen tongue may occur due to many reasons. It may be secondary to intake of certain drugs, underlying health problems and allergies. You should advise your friend to seek medical care because a swollen tongue may interfere with the airways and lead to serious consequences.

Swelling is a normal defense mechanism of our bodies. It protects the body against harmful germs and parasites. Swelling also plays an important role during injury and healing. Excessive or persistent swelling, however, may cause other problems.

Some drugs are known to cause swelling of the tongue, examples include ACE inhibitors- medicines for high blood pressure and NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, aspirin or naproxen. A swollen tongue may also be due to exposure to certain allergens which can be in a form of medications, bee stings and food items. Infection inside the mouth or in the tongue itself may also manifest as swelling. Another possible cause of swollen tongue is a rare medical condition known as amyloidosis. This disease is characterized by the build up of protein known as amyloid. The said substance may accumulate in different tissues and organs of the body causing impairment of normal function.

Treatment generally depends on the cause and the severity of the symptoms. If the swelling is due to reaction to drugs, the person will be advised to stop taking the medication. In food allergies, it is important to avoid the food items that triggers allergic reaction. A swollen tongue can cause breathing problems, hence, immediate medical treatment should be given to the patient. The health team may administer medicines to control swelling, this may include epinephrine or steroids.

This blog entry is for general information only. I recommend that your friend discusses his symptoms with his own doctor.

Tags: Allergy, amyloidosis, steroid, swollen tongue