Swollen Tongue Causes

A swollen tongue can be very frustrating and inconvenient for anybody to experience. Some basic actions like communication and consumption of food and liquids make the tongue a very important factor in a person’s daily life. The tongue is also involved in deciphering tastes and contains muscles that help it change formation to aid in eating as well as changing the form of the tongue to help pronounce certain words. A swelling of the tongue should be taken very seriously because the swelling can spread towards the back and into the throat. In such cases, it could, either partially or completely, block the air passage and the patient could eventually die after experiencing an intense problem in breathing.

A swelling of the tongue can occur for a variety of reason ranging from a simple infection of the tongue to a symptom for hyperthyroidism or a tumor. It can also be caused by a hereditary condition known as hereditary angioedema. Since it is a hereditary condition, asking family members if they have experienced a swelling of the tongue due to this in the past, would prove useful in diagnosis for the underlying cause.

One of the most common causes for a swelling of the tongue, however, is because of an allergy. When the tongue swells up because of a food allergy, it is usually accompanied by a host of other symptoms that include, but are not restricted to – hives, intense itching, a serious swelling of the entire face and vomiting. In the event swelling was brought on by a food allergy, it is important to make a mental note of the ingredient or fruit / vegetable that caused the episode as an abstinence from that food item will prevent future reactions.

Other triggers that could be responsible for tongue swelling (or angioedema) are environmental factors like a change in temperature or a physical wound on the tongue. Symptoms noticed when a person has angioedema (not necessarily triggered by a food allergy) include: areas that swell up and become painful and itchy, red welts around the hands but more commonly found around the eyes and lips, discolored patches on the skin, rashes found in areas like the genitals, hands and feet.

Swollen Tongue Treatment

A Swollen tongue can be treated at home with a simple remedy of a liquid solution of turmeric and water used to gargle at least twice a day. This has proved to be particularly helpful in reducing the inflammation.