Pediatric macroglossia (large tongue)

What is pediatric macroglossia (large tongue)?

Children can either be born with (congenital) an enlarged tongue or develop it after birth (acquired) in response to a medical condition. This uncommon disorder can cause difficulties breathing, eating, sleeping, speaking and swallowing.

What are the signs and symptoms of pediatric macroglossia (large tongue)?

Symptoms will vary according to the cause and severity of the condition responsible for macroglossia. Symptoms can include:

• Airway obstruction

• Difficulty eating

• Drooling

• Irregular growth of the jaw and teeth

• Open sore

• Sleep apnea

• Speech impairment

• Stridor

• Tissue death on the tip of the tongue

What are the causes of pediatric macroglossia (large tongue)?

Some children are born with an abnormally large tongue due to genetics. Children can have a large tongue due to several medical conditions:

• Acromegaly (gigantism)

• Amyloidosis

• Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome

• Cancer

• Down syndrome

• Hemangioma

• Hypothyroidism

• Oral herpes simplex virus

• Kawasaki disease

• Sarcoidosis - tiny collections of painful, inflammatory cells in various locations of the body

• Structural abnormalities - irregularities that affect the blood vessels or muscle masses

• Thrush