Aa
Painful small white spots on the tongue
Background:
I'm 45 and have Herpes Simplex II for about 10 years and due to laziness, have just now begun being treated for it with daily suppression therapy using Acyclovir. It works fine.
Ironically, I'm one of those with Simplex II who only suffers oral symptoms. (You may know that due to the prevelance of oral sex, the line between I and II has blurred.)
I have performed oral sex on women who were suffering from yeast infections, in the past. I am divorced, and have had multiple sex partners.
About 6-8 years ago I began suffering from a symptom: various taste buds on the top of my tongue turning white and becoming painful, each feeling like tiny pin pricks on my tongue. No bleeding. I always thought that this was a symptom of herpes (even though I was suffering pain - and pain does not usually accompany herpes outbreaks). My tongue symptoms are worse when I was under stress, and after I ran the Chicago Marathon my tongue broke out with about a dozen such white "spots" that were very painful indeed.
I went to see an ENT specialist, but the spots went away before the appointment and there was nothing for him to see or diagnose, so he just sent me home without a diagnosis.
I'm writing this because the suppression therapy took away my herpes symptoms, but the tongue pain outbreaks are still going on. I am also under a lot of stress at work.
There is no pain were the white taste buds are not - only pain traceable to the whitened spots.
Also, the white taste bud like spots come and go in different areas of the tongue, like chicken pox - again, suggesting a herpes connection.
I've been tested for all STD's and HSVII was the only positive result.
A friend suggested Epstein-Barr.
I'm stumped. Got any ideas?
Thanks.
I'm 45 and have Herpes Simplex II for about 10 years and due to laziness, have just now begun being treated for it with daily suppression therapy using Acyclovir. It works fine.
Ironically, I'm one of those with Simplex II who only suffers oral symptoms. (You may know that due to the prevelance of oral sex, the line between I and II has blurred.)
I have performed oral sex on women who were suffering from yeast infections, in the past. I am divorced, and have had multiple sex partners.
About 6-8 years ago I began suffering from a symptom: various taste buds on the top of my tongue turning white and becoming painful, each feeling like tiny pin pricks on my tongue. No bleeding. I always thought that this was a symptom of herpes (even though I was suffering pain - and pain does not usually accompany herpes outbreaks). My tongue symptoms are worse when I was under stress, and after I ran the Chicago Marathon my tongue broke out with about a dozen such white "spots" that were very painful indeed.
I went to see an ENT specialist, but the spots went away before the appointment and there was nothing for him to see or diagnose, so he just sent me home without a diagnosis.
I'm writing this because the suppression therapy took away my herpes symptoms, but the tongue pain outbreaks are still going on. I am also under a lot of stress at work.
There is no pain were the white taste buds are not - only pain traceable to the whitened spots.
Also, the white taste bud like spots come and go in different areas of the tongue, like chicken pox - again, suggesting a herpes connection.
I've been tested for all STD's and HSVII was the only positive result.
A friend suggested Epstein-Barr.
I'm stumped. Got any ideas?
Thanks.
After I requested this post I found an older woman had made the inquiry on a British version of this website. The British doc there suggested gargling with an antiseptic mouthwash and forgetting about it (there was nothing to worry about).
I tried it, and it worked! Instantly the pain was gone. Wow. It stayed gone, too.
Thanks.
I tried it, and it worked! Instantly the pain was gone. Wow. It stayed gone, too.
Thanks.
A related discussion, What would be? was started.
A related discussion, New STD - Medics have no answers was started.
This sounds like transient lingual papillitis, also known as "lie bumps". Its a short-lived swelling of the papillae. Typical treatment is topical analgesics and NSAIDS. Although the cause is unknown, it is not herpes, and not contagious.
A related discussion, Oral herpes on tongue? White tastebuds. Valtrex not working was started.
Sorry Eric, that should read you will be "UNABLE" to get a definite diagnosis here. Good Luck.
Some possibilities could be:
Herpes, Candidiasis, Geographical Tongue, Recurrent Aphthous Ulcers, to more sinister conditions. The list could go on and you will be able to get a definite diagnosis here. I know you have seen an ENT specialist but they disappeared before your appointment, but if they come back, try to get another appointment. A examination in person is required to get a definite diagnosis. Good Luck.
Herpes, Candidiasis, Geographical Tongue, Recurrent Aphthous Ulcers, to more sinister conditions. The list could go on and you will be able to get a definite diagnosis here. I know you have seen an ENT specialist but they disappeared before your appointment, but if they come back, try to get another appointment. A examination in person is required to get a definite diagnosis. Good Luck.
The elevated white spots on your tongue are NOT herpes. I can tell you this for sure and I'm not a doctor. Have you looked very closedly at these "spots"?
If you look closely you may realize that they are simply an inflamed "bump" on your tongue. You tongue is not smoothe but consists of hundreds of small raised buds. Occasionally a single "bud" becomes inflamed. It will become white, swollen and painful. This is quite common and they can occur several times a year. My stepfather calls them "lye bumps" which I'm sure is not the appropriate medical term but rest assured its not herpes
If you look closely you may realize that they are simply an inflamed "bump" on your tongue. You tongue is not smoothe but consists of hundreds of small raised buds. Occasionally a single "bud" becomes inflamed. It will become white, swollen and painful. This is quite common and they can occur several times a year. My stepfather calls them "lye bumps" which I'm sure is not the appropriate medical term but rest assured its not herpes
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I wish I could help, but the symptoms you describe do not sound like any STD I can think of; and no STD would cause continuing or intermittent symptoms like that for several years. It certainly does not sound like herpes.
It may or may not be pertinent to your question, but I am skeptical that you have recurrent oral herpes due to HSV-2. If you are going by symptoms plus a positive blood antibody test for HSV-2, that is insufficient; you would need a positive culture for the HSV-2 virus itself from a recurrent oral lesion to be confident that was the cause. But in any case, you can be confident herpes isn't the cause of the white spots on your tongue.
Sorry I can't be of more help-- HHH, MD
It may or may not be pertinent to your question, but I am skeptical that you have recurrent oral herpes due to HSV-2. If you are going by symptoms plus a positive blood antibody test for HSV-2, that is insufficient; you would need a positive culture for the HSV-2 virus itself from a recurrent oral lesion to be confident that was the cause. But in any case, you can be confident herpes isn't the cause of the white spots on your tongue.
Sorry I can't be of more help-- HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
