When the soft and delicate mucous membrane of the mouth or tongue gets infected by virus, this condition is known as leukoplakia. It normally occurs in mouth but sometimes may also occur on female genitals called as vaginal leukoplakia. The virus attacks the mucous membranes present in the mouth making it rough and painful for the person.
The exact cause of leukoplakia is unknown, but smoking and using pipes can trigger this disease. Prolonged use of tobacco in any form can also give rise to leukoplakia. This condition is considered to be the first symptom of HIV infection in women.
Common symptoms of leukoplakia are soreness in the vagina and mouth, followed by hair like development on the outer part of vagina. There may be white patches on the tongue and mouth cavity. Usually leukoplakia does not develop suddenly it grows as a process taking sufficient time.
The doctor may advice biopsy of the affected area for diagnosing the illness. Oral cancer can be eliminated by performing biopsy of the affected part. He would prescribe antiviral drugs depending on the severity of the illness. In rare case, surgery is done for removing lesions.
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