New Delhi: People in their lifetime experience several medical complications. Certain conditions may seem to be familiar to commoners, however, some may make you panic. One such absurd medical condition was witnessed by a man in his 50s as he noticed that his tongue was turning black and thick hair were growing on it. Yes, you read it right.
The man rushed to a dermatologist after experiencing one of the most uncommon medical conditions. Reportedly, the man was under a diet of pureed food and liquids following a stroke.
After diagnosing his condition, doctors found out that he was suffering from a medical condition called lingua villosa nigra or black hairy tongue.
Three months prior to the diagnosis, the patient underwent a stroke that left his left side paralysed. After about two and a half months, his caretakers noticed “black pigmentation” covering the surface of his tongue.
The thick black coating had a tinge of “yellowish” streaks near the midline and back of the tongue, stated the report published in the journal JAMA Dermatology on March 9. The author further stated, the outer edge, tip, and dead centre of the tongue were free of the gunk.
After consulting, the doctors examined that the black coating was made of long, thin fibres, with bright, yellow deposits most probably food particles, spread throughout.
The patient’s mucus samples were taken to examine the abnormal bacterial or fungal infections, however, the results were negative.
“With these findings, a diagnosis of the black hairy tongue (BHT) was made,” the study authors said.
This absurd medical condition occurs when tiny, cone-shaped bumps on the surface of the tongue, called filiform papillae, don’t shed. They grow up to the length of 1 millimetre before shedding off from the tongue. Besides, if the tongue does not undergo regular abrasion like from a toothbrush, tongue scraper, or any solid, textured food, the hair can grow to 18 millimetres in length.
According to the case report, dry mouth is another risk factor for such an instance.
“The patient and caregivers were given advice regarding proper cleansing measures, and the discoloration resolved after 20 days,” the doctors said.
