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US CDC image Hairy leukoplakia manifests as a leathery white callus on the side of the tongue. Like leukoplakia, it is not easily scraped off. Unlike leukoplakia, it is NOT caused by chronic exposure to noxious chemical exposure like tobacco smoke. It is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus which often hides out in the body without causing overt symptoms. Epstein-Barr is an opportunistic viral parasite which causes symptoms when the body's own immune system is at a low ebb. The most frequent disease associated with the Epstein-Barr virus is mononucleosis.
Copyright 2006 Martin S. Spiller, D.M.D. courtesy of Dr. Ed Cataldo
Hairy Leukoplakia is considered pathognomonic for AIDS. In other words, when a clinician encounters a patient with hairy leukoplakia, he assumes he is dealing with a person with the HIV virus and recommends that the patient have serological test for HIV if the patient is unaware that he or she has the virus. Hairy leukoplakia is asymptomatic and causes no symptoms, however patients often complain of the rough feeling of the tongue as it contacts the other oral tissues. It responds quite well to acyclovir or other herpes-active antibiotics.
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