Hairy leukoplakia

Hairy leukoplakia is a condition that affects the mouth, specifically the sides of the tongue. It appears as white, fuzzy patches that cannot be scraped off easily. This condition is caused by a virus called Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which infects the cells lining the mouth. It mainly occurs in people with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS. The patches themselves usually do not cause pain but can be a sign of underlying immune problems. It affects the oral mucosa and can impact overall health by indicating immune suppression. Recognizing these patches is important for diagnosing and managing the underlying condition.

Hairy leukoplakia is an oral mucosal lesion characterized by white, corrugated, or hairy-appearing plaques predominantly on the lateral borders of the tongue. It results from reactivation of latent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in the setting of immunosuppression, most commonly in patients with HIV/AIDS or other causes of impaired cell-mediated immunity. The lesion represents hyperplasia of the epithelial cells with viral cytopathic changes but is benign and non-malignant. It is clinically significant as a marker of severe immunodeficiency and may precede or coincide with other opportunistic infections. Histologically, it shows ballooning degeneration of epithelial cells and EBV-infected epithelial cells. The condition is distinct from other oral white lesions by its characteristic location, appearance, and association with EBV.