Herpetic stomatitis in the oral cavity. Etiology, treatment, prevention.

What kind of pathology is this

Herpetic gingivitis is an inflammatory lesion of the gums caused by the introduction of a herpes viral infection into their mucosa. This infection is considered highly contagious and can be contracted anywhere, on the street and in public places. During the cold season, there are more cases of this infection. Its source is a sick person. Often this disease becomes a complication of viral stomatitis.

The virus is transmitted to children in the following ways:

• contact;
• household;
• airborne;
• hematogenous.

The first introduction of the virus into the baby’s body is manifested by gingivitis and stomatitis.

3.Herpes

Herpes on the lips

appears due to a virus called herpes simplex virus type 1. Unlike ulcers, herpes is contagious from the moment the herpes blisters rupture until complete recovery. Primary infection often occurs during childhood and can be confused with cold or flu symptoms. Once a person becomes infected with the herpes virus, the virus remains in the body and lies dormant most of the time. But during stress, colds, injuries, hormonal changes, under the influence of sunlight, the virus is activated and herpes appears on the lips.

Herpes tends to appear in the same place. And in addition to infecting other people, the herpes virus can spread to other parts of the infected person's body - the eyes and genitals.

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Causes

Often a child gets sick for the first time during teething. It prevents you from brushing the area where the tooth is erupting. As a result, infection accumulates in this place and inflammation of the gum tissue occurs, which gradually spreads. It is aggravated by frequent allergic reactions to introduced complementary foods.

In older children, pathology is provoked by the following reasons:

• mechanical microtraumas - damage to gum tissue occurs when brushing teeth with hard brushes or hard food when biting it;
• the introduction of herpes is provoked by other viral or infectious lesions of the oral cavity;
• the presence of polyps in the nasal cavity and breathing problems contribute to the penetration of an infectious agent into the gum tissue;
• an incorrect bite in a child leads to constant trauma to the mucous membrane and the development of inflammation;
• lack of nutrients, vitamins and microelements in the baby’s diet reduces local immunity;
• the manifestation of a viral infection is provoked by burns in the mouth;
• Dental diseases (caries, pulpitis) contribute to the development of the virus in the gum tissue, weakening local immunity.

The infection spreads to other tissues quite quickly, and isolated gum damage spreads to periodontal structures.

What does traditional medicine offer?

The appearance of blisters on the mucous membrane prompts some people to try to eliminate the symptoms of the disease on their own. Of course, some of the traditional medicine recipes are indeed effective as maintenance therapy, but they will never replace full treatment. The following tips can be highlighted from proven “grandmother’s” methods:

• rinsing with herbal decoctions - antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial. These are chamomile, celandine, sage, wormwood and lemon balm. The dried herb should be poured with boiling water and left until it cools completely. Then the resulting substance should be filtered and used for rinsing after each meal,
• ginger, tea tree and sea buckthorn oils - used to treat affected areas of the mucous membrane so that the wounds heal faster,
• cranberry - not only prevents the further spread of infection, but also increases the overall resistance of the body. The berries need to be poured with boiling water and left alone for a while. The resulting product can be used not only for rinsing the mouth, but also for oral administration.

Gargling with medicinal herbs will help in treatment.
It should be understood that any pharmaceutical product or traditional medicine recipe can only be used with the consent of a specialist. Attempts to get rid of the problem on your own in most cases lead to a worsening of the situation, especially when it comes to treating a child.

Symptoms

Signs of herpes gingivitis in a child do not appear immediately after infection. Its latent period lasts up to eight days. The disease begins abruptly. At first, the baby becomes capricious, lethargic and restless. He sleeps poorly, refuses to eat, and complains of pain in his mouth.

After some time, the following manifestations of the disease appear:

• high temperature up to 39 degrees;
• increased salivation;
• gums become swollen and red;
• intergingival papillae increase;
• the oral mucosa is swollen;
• the tongue swells and becomes covered with a white coating;
• blistering rashes on the mucous membranes and skin around the mouth;
• nearby lymph nodes enlarge;
• headache;
• bad breath;
• general malaise;
• burning.

In place of the blisters, when they burst, ulcers appear that do not heal for a long time. All other manifestations disappear within a week, but they persist for up to fourteen days.

1.What is stomatitis, its types and symptoms

The term stomatitis refers to inflammatory processes in the oral cavity

that cause pain.
Stomatitis can cause discomfort and pain and interfere with eating, sleeping, and other daily activities. Canker sores can occur anywhere in the mouth, including the inside of the cheeks, gums, tongue, lips, and roof of the mouth
.

Types of stomatitis

There are several types of stomatitis, the main ones being:

• Ulcers
  , also called aphthous ulcers. They usually appear in the mouth on the cheeks, tongue or lip, and appear as pale or yellowish sores with a red outer border;
• Herpes
  . Cold sores are fluid-filled sores that are located on or around the lips. Herpes on the gums and upper jaw also occurs, but very rarely. Herpes on the lips first looks like blisters filled with liquid, and then a crust or sore forms on it. Before a cold sore appears, there is often an itching, tingling or burning sensation on the lip.
• Irritation of the oral mucosa
  . It can be caused by biting the cheeks, tongue or lips, wearing braces, damage to the mucosa from a broken or sharp tooth, burns to the mouth from eating too hot food or liquids, gingivitis and other gum infections, and some autoimmune diseases. For example, systemic lupus, Crohn's disease or Behçet's disease. Mucosal irritation and stomatitis can be a side effect of treatment for other diseases - chemotherapy, antibiotics, drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, epilepsy.

Symptoms of stomatitis

Symptoms of stomatitis depend on what type of stomatitis appears. So, mouth ulcer

usually painful and lasts 5 to 10 days. Often the ulcer appears again. And it is usually not associated with any colds.

Herpes

on the lip is not always painful. Rather, it causes discomfort. Herpes goes away in 7-10 days and its appearance is often a consequence of colds and flu.

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Diagnostics

The diagnosis of herpes gingivitis is quite easy for a child to make, since the disease has characteristic clinical manifestations. The diagnosis is made by the dentist based on an examination of the baby’s oral cavity and data on the course of the disease. Characteristic formations on the mucous membrane and manifestations of inflammation in the mouth clearly indicate that this is a specific lesion. To clarify the nature of the lesion, the doctor prescribes general blood and urine tests. If the disease is severe, it is necessary to clearly identify the type of pathogen. In this case, specific laboratory research methods are used.

These include:

• virological study;
• polymerase chain reaction;
• immunofluorescence method;
• HSV test for the determination of immunospot G-specific glycoprotein;
• serological test with immunoglobulin M.

These methods determine with a high degree of accuracy the type of pathogen in the blood and discharge from ulcers. But they are very expensive and labor-intensive, so they are used quite rarely.

Effective treatment of inflammation in the oral cavity

Thanks to the optimal combination of metronidazole and chlorhexidine, which are part of METROGYL DENTA®, the drug acts on the main pathogenic microorganisms that cause inflammation of the oral cavity. METROGYL DENTA® is intended for the treatment of most infectious and inflammatory diseases and the prevention of exacerbations. In periodontal practice, the use of METROGYL DENTA® is included in the complex treatment of gingivitis and periodontitis; in surgical dentistry, the drug is used to treat inflammation of the socket of an extracted tooth. In orthodontic practice, treatment of the oral cavity with METROGYL DENTA® relieves inflammatory phenomena when using dentures. The gel not only masks the symptoms of diseases, but acts on the cause itself - pathogenic microorganisms.

Up to contents

The information in this article is for reference only and does not replace professional advice from a doctor. To make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment, consult a qualified specialist.

Treatment

Treatment of mild forms of herpetic gingivitis in children is carried out on an outpatient basis under the supervision of a physician. In severe cases of the disease, the patient is hospitalized in a hospital. The patient is prescribed a diet with a predominance of pureed food that does not irritate the oral mucosa. It shouldn't be hot. There is no need to give your child solid food to prevent additional injury to the gums.

For mild forms, local treatment is used.

The following drugs are used:

• antiviral agents (Acicovir, Ganciclovir) - destroy the DNA of the virus, use ointment to lubricate the gums up to five times a day for two weeks;
• local anesthetic gels and ointments (Lidochlor gel, Kamistad) - they anesthetize, disinfect, have an anti-inflammatory effect, are used three times a day, two weeks;
• local antiseptics (Iodinol, Miramistin, Hexoral) - these agents rinse the mouth every four hours, two weeks;
• reparative preparations (Solcoseryl-gel, Methyluracil ointment) - applying ointments to ulcers promotes their epithelization and rapid healing, applied three times a day for two weeks.

Herbal infusions (chamomile, rose hips, calendula, sage, St. John's wort, licorice) are widely used for rinsing when gums are damaged.

In severe cases, the baby is prescribed oral medications.

The following drugs are prescribed:

• antiviral drugs (Famciclovir, Acyclovir, Zovirax) - taken according to the regimen prescribed by the doctor, the drug must be taken to the end, otherwise there will be a relapse;
• antihistamines (Suprastin, Tavegil, Citrine) - reduce swelling of gum tissue and reduce pain;
• antipyretics (Panadol, Nurofen) are used to reduce high fever.

Parents should monitor the baby’s oral hygiene; during illness, it is carried out especially carefully. To prevent gum injury, it is recommended to use toothbrushes with soft bristles. It is necessary to treat toys and objects that the baby uses with antiseptics.

How to treat herpetic stomatitis?

Treatment of herpetic stomatitis in children and adults can be general or local. The therapeutic treatment strategy is determined by the form and severity of the disease. In this case, the patient is usually shown:

• high-calorie diet, drinking plenty of fluids, bed rest;
• antiviral drugs (orally, intravenously or intramuscularly);
• restorative therapy (taking vitamins);
• symptomatic treatment (use of antipyretics, painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs);
• local therapy (rinses, applications, etc.).

When choosing tactics for treating acute or chronic herpetic stomatitis in adults and children, it is important to correctly determine the form and stage of the disease. That is why experts urge patients not to self-medicate, but to immediately consult a doctor if signs of damage appear.

Therapy under the supervision of a specialist will allow you to recover quickly and without consequences for the body. With the right approach, herpes stomatitis in a child or adult can be cured in 10-14 days.

Varicella zoster virus

The Varicella Zoster virus (herpes type 3) causes the following diseases:

1. Varicella (chickenpox) , which is characterized by:

• blistering rash on the skin of the trunk, limbs, scalp, mucous membranes;
• symptoms of intoxication;
• fever.

2. Herpes zoster , which manifests itself:

• blistering grouped rashes;
• neuralgia in certain skin segments innervated by sensory nerves (usually along the intercostal nerves, along the trigeminal nerve).

The rash with herpes zoster is accompanied by severe pain with moderate symptoms of intoxication.

Types of disease in children

There are 80 types of herpes virus, of which 8 are dangerous to humans. The nature of the disease and the type of herpetic rash depend on the type of herpes simplex virus (HSV):

• Type 1 HSV - looks like cold-like rashes in the form of blisters on the lips, causes herpetic stomatitis and herpetic encephalitis.
• Type 2 HSV – manifests itself as a rash on the genitals (genital herpes).
• Type 3 HSV – causes chickenpox and recurrent herpes zoster.
• The 4th type of HSV - Epshane-Barr virus, causes malignant lymphoma and infectious mononucleosis - an acute viral disease with fever, damage to the respiratory tract, lymph nodes, liver, spleen and blood.
• Type 5 HSV – cytomegalovirus; affects the respiratory system, internal organs, intestines, eyes, brain, nervous and urinary systems.
• Type 6 HSV - causes viral eczema - exanthema - pseudorubella-type rash;
• The 7th and 8th types of HSV have not been sufficiently studied. Source: A.G. Lateral Herpesvirus infections in children - an urgent problem of modern clinical practice // Children's infections, 2010, No. 2, pp. 3-7