<prompt> Hairy leukoplakia is characterized by?PainEBV infectionNo association with HIVPre-cancerous  <response>: Ans. is b i.e. EBV infection Hairy leukoplakia Oral hairy leukoplakia, OHL It is a condition caused by Epstein-Barr virus EBV and occurs usually in persons who are immunocompromised, especially those with HIVAIDS. It presents an asymptomatic white patch, which almost exclusively occurs on the lateral surfaces of the tongue. The lesion may grow to involve the dorsal surface of the tongue. The texture is vertically corrugated hairy or thickly furrowed and shaggy in appearance The white appearance is created by hyperkeratosis overproduction of keratin and epithelial hyperplasia Treatment is not necessary since the lesion is benign self-limiting. 