Scientists from Japan’s Fukuoka University reported a rare case of a black hairy tongue in a woman who was taking antibiotics. Health report published British Medical Journal Case Reports.
In a rare case, a 60-year-old woman suffering from rectal cancer had a strange reaction to antibiotics. Black hairy tongue is a benign, reversible condition that gives the tongue a dark color. The discoloration is the result of a build-up of dead skin cells in small projections (papillae) on the surface of the tongue that contain taste buds.
The patient who started treatment 14 months ago was using antibiotics. He took it at a dose of 100mg every other day to prevent skin lesions that could be caused by the anti-cancer drug panitumumab.
Doctors also found gray spots on the woman’s face. It is characteristic of skin damage caused by minocycline because it darkens when the drug oxidizes.
After six weeks, facial pigmentation and hairy black tongue symptoms had improved markedly. Scientists believe that the patient’s condition was an adverse reaction to minocycline.
Patients with black hairy tongue may also experience an altered or metallic taste, bad breath, and nausea or tickling sensation in the mouth. The cause of the disease cannot always be determined, but the use of antibiotics, poor oral hygiene, regular use of certain mouthwashes, smoking, coffee, tea and alcohol consumption can contribute to the disease.