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Case Reports
. 2014 Nov-Dec;46(6):653-4.
doi: 10.4103/0253-7613.144942.

Linezolid induced black hairy tongue

Govindan Balaji  1 , B Maharani  2 , Velappan Ravichandran  1 , Thiyagarajan Parthasarathi  3
Affiliations
Case Reports

Linezolid induced black hairy tongue

Govindan Balaji et al. Indian J Pharmacol. 2014 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

Black hairy tongue (BHT) also called as lingua villosa nigra, is a self limiting benign condition characterized by hypertrophy and elongation of filiform papillae of tongue with brown or black discoloration. Smoking, poor oral hygiene, xerostomia, using peroxide containing mouth washes, substance abuse and drugs (steroids, methyldopa, olanzapine, etc) are the predisposing factors. However its occurrence in relation to linezolid ingestion among south Indians has not been reported in PubMed database. Here we report a case, where significant association of linezolid intake with BHT was found in a 10-year-old boy, who was treated with tablet linezolid for post surgical infection of left side radial neck fracture. This case is reported for the rarity of occurrence with linezolid therapy. According to Naranjo adverse drug reaction (ADR) causality scale, the association of BHT due to linezolid in our case was probable.

Keywords: Black hairy tongue; Naranjo algorithm; linezolid.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: No.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Black hairy tongue in a ten year old boy on linezolid
Figure 2
Figure 2
Photo after stopping linezolid therapy
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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Publication types

Supplementary concepts