AIDS man with a hairy tongue. Man's hairy or furry tongue (glossotrichia) due to a papillomavirus infection. Papillomaviruses include warts, non- malignant tumours and cervical cancers. AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is a disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It causes weakening of the immune system, making the patient susceptible to opportunistic infections and making normally harmless infections life threatening. This disorder has developed as an AIDS-related complex (ARC), a precursor to full AIDS. In Africa, where this patient is from, lack of access to drugs & information makes AIDS a major public health concern.