
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.

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.