Viral infections, caused by small infectious organisms that invade a host cell for replication purposes, may occur when a virus enters the body through the mouth or nose. The Merck Manual states that infections of the nose, throat and upper airways are the most commonly contracted viral contagion, putting the tongue at risk for developing a disease or other condition of viral origin. Viruses that affect the tongue include Kawasaki disease, herpangina and hand-foot-and-mouth disease.
Kawasaki Disease
Kawasaki disease most often infects children under the age of 5, occurring in 19 out of every 100,000 children living in the United States, according to 2008 information from KidsHealth.org. This viral infection affects the skin, lymph nodes and mouth, including the tongue. Symptoms of this disease include redness in the eyes, swollen tongue with large red bumps and a white coating, sore throat, swollen palms and the bottoms of feet combined with a red-purple discoloring, swollen lymph nodes, cracked lips and a rash on the chest, stomach and genitals. Preventative measures to avoid Kawasaki disease do not yet exist; however, if symptoms are promptly recognized, treatment can lessen the duration of the infection.
Herpangina
Herpangina, a viral disorder, presents as an abrupt onset of fever with sore throat, headache, anorexia and neck pain, leading to grayish lesions on the soft palate, tonsils, uvula or tongue. These lesions become ulcers that heal in 1 to 7 days. The Merck Manual indicates that the cause of herpangina is a group of A coxsackieviruses or other enteroviruses. Complications rarely occur as a result of infection.
Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease
Hand-foot-and-mouth disease, also commonly caused by a coxsackievirus, causes sores in the mouth, including on the tongue, as well as a rash on the hands and feet. Common in young children, this contagious viral infection has no treatment for the virus itself, but infection risk is lessened by frequent hand washing. MayoClinic.com reports symptoms as fever, sore throat, red lesions on the tongue, gums and inside of the cheeks, irritability and a rash on the palms, bottoms of feet and buttocks.
