What Causes Swollen Cracked Tongue And Dark Coloration Under Tongue?

Posted on Tue, 30 Sep 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 30 Sep 2014 Answered on

Thu, 16 Oct 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : My dad has end stage Alzheimer's and is bed ridden. His tongue is swollen and seems shorter, it looks cracked and is dark colored under the tongue. He has stopped eating and is drinking about 16oz of water a day. Is this a sign of dehydration and what can we do? He can't speak very well and sounds like his throat is sore.

Answered by Dr. Richard Jackson (13 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Maybe

Detailed Answer:
it's usually more of a sign of mouth breathing which causes focal dehydration. if his skin is tough or he's not urinating it might also be a sign of systemic dehydration. easiest thing to do is get a small oral sponge and rub his mouth with it when it's damp. that's what we do in the hospital. hope this helps

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D