Black-Tongued Witch – Really?

ABSTRACT

Black hairy tongue (BHT) also known as Lingua villosa nigra is an acquired, benign condition which is characterized by abnormally hypertrophied and elongated papilliform papillae on the dorsal surface of the tongue. Apart from black; it may also appear brown, yellow, green or blue. BHT typically causes aesthetic concerns to the patient. Gagging, nausea, dysgeusia, xerostomia, burning mouth syndrome and halitosis can be the very rare presenting complaints in some patients. In India, however, black tongue is believed to associate with witches and unfortunate doom spellers. We are reporting a case of olanzapine induced BHT who became a victim of very popular but irrational myth in Indian society.