Which condition should be suspected if a patient has a white tongue with light scrapes that come off?

Candidiasis, also known as oral thrush, is a fungal infection caused by Candida species, most commonly Candida albicans. The presence of a white tongue with light scrapes that come off is a classic sign of this condition. The white patches consist of thrush formed by fungi and can be easily scraped away, revealing an inflamed or red underlying mucosa. This easy removal distinguishes it from other conditions that may present with a white tongue.

In contrast, strep throat typically presents with symptoms such as sore throat, fever, and swollen lymph nodes, rather than a characteristic white coating on the tongue. Oral lichen planus can also cause white lesions, but these usually appear as lace-like striations or are more adherent and not easily scraped off. Variation of normal reflects a benign condition where the tongue's appearance can change without any underlying disease, but this does not explain the inflammatory signs associated with the easily scraped white patches indicative of an infection like candidiasis. Thus, the combination of symptoms clearly points towards candidiasis as the most likely condition affecting the patient.