What could the white bumps on the back of the tongue mean?

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I went through your complaint and also the photos (attachment removed to protect patient identity) that you provided of the lesion.

As far as your history of painful sores on tongue tip is concerned, there can be various reasons. Most common are vitamin B12 deficiency, stress, irritant food or medications, and trauma. These sores disappear after a certain period if the cause is removed, so believe it or not, antibiotics may aggravate them if the cause was any stress or nutrition deficiency.

Coming to your pictures, I got a superficial view of the lesion due to low resolution, and I could make out it does not seem to be HPV (human papillomavirus). But if you experience any tingling, difficulty swallowing, jaw or neck pain, hoarseness of voice, etc., then immediately consult an ENT specialist for oral examination.

It can be swelling of your taste buds, which can be caused by similar things as mentioned above. And yes, at the back of your tongue the white circular bumps arranged symmetrically are called as lingual tonsils, which swell when you suffer from a sore throat.

Please answer the following questions:

1. Were you involved in oral sex within the past three weeks?
2. Is your partner's STD (sexually transmitted disease) status confirmed, including HPV, herpes, and HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)?
3. Is your STD status confirmed negative?
4. Have you had multiple sexual partners within the past three months?

If any of the above questions are a "yes" or the symptoms does not subside in a week, please get an oropharyngeal examination done by an ENT specialist. Consult me further for any other queries regarding the treatment or anything.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

If there is no worsening of symptoms, then that is a plus point, but I recommend you consult a specialist if in case the sores and lumps recur.

I think it will be fine in about a week, until then, I suggest applying topical ointment, like B Folcin gel (Choline salicylate). It is applied in the mouth on lesions at night after gargling with warm water.

A full course of multivitamin tablets, like tablet MVBC (Multivitamin B complex), one tablet every afternoon after a meal for 30 days. If you have constipation, do get treated with Bisacodyl tablets, one tablet at night before sleep.

Do follow-up until the lumps fully subside. And do not hesitate to consult a specialist if your lesions persist after a week. Till then, keep calm and enjoy.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Yes, the possibilities of it being HPV lesion are low if the lesions are healing without any complications and any other signs till this week. But, if you are scared and have any doubt, you can undergo a clinical examination just for self-satisfaction.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

In the photo (attachment removed to protect patient identity), I can make out some small lumps on the underside of your tongue. Otherwise, nothing is serious.

As I told you earlier if other than the lesions at the side of your tongue, please get a thorough oropharyngeal examination, which will reveal any other hidden lesions if any and other characteristics.

Please, get an oropharyngeal examination with full history done by an ENT specialist. Do not worry and take care. Do follow-up with the reports of your examination.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

These lumps can be simple mucous retention cysts, which are swelling in the minor salivary glands. So, there is no need to worry about them.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

The most probable cause of their swelling is an acute infection, whereas vigorous tongue cleaning might be the other cause. Anyway, hope the swelling too will clear up in few days.

In the meantime, just relax as you have no other signs of fever, sore throat, weakness, body ache, runny nose, cough, etc.

Have a nice day. Take care.