Herpetic Stomatitis - What Is It? How To Treat? Symptoms

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

Herpetic stomatitis

Herpetic stomatitis is a serious medical condition that reduces a person's quality of life. In adults, it is not often diagnosed, but it is severe and difficult to treat. You should not try to cope with herpetic stomatitis on your own. First you need to make sure that the patient has developed this particular form of the disease. Only a doctor can make a correct diagnosis and choose a treatment. Nevertheless, each person should know how this disease manifests itself, and also be able to provide himself with the rules of first aid.

Content:

• What it is?
• How can you get the virus
• Causes of herpetic stomatitis
• Forms of the disease
• Symptoms of herpetic stomatitis
• Herpetic stomatitis in children
• Diagnostics
• Treatment of herpetic stomatitis
• Prevention

What it is?

Herpetic stomatitis is a viral infection. The main manifestation of the disease is small ulcers that cover the mouth. Herpes simplex virus type 1 or 2 can cause pathology.

The disease is very contagious, the infection spreads quickly through airborne droplets, and it can also be transmitted through close contact.

Herpetic stomatitis tends to recur. Its exacerbations most often occur in autumn and winter, when the immune forces decrease, hypothermia of the body occurs, the likelihood of infection with ARVI increases, and people suffer from hypovitaminosis. Young children are the worst affected by the disease. The acute process can take them several weeks.

How can you get the virus

Infection occurs when the virus enters the oral cavity. This happens during a kiss, when using someone else's toothbrush. The virus is easily transmitted from one person to another.

The risk of infection increases when you are in crowded places. Cases of herpetic stomatitis are increasing in the cold season.

Virus transmission methods:

• Contact way.
• Having sex with an infected person.
• Airborne droplets.
• Hematogenous pathway, that is, by blood.

People who use sodium lauryl sulfate paste are more likely to become infected. The fact is that this component weakens the protection of the oral cavity at the local level.

Causes of herpetic stomatitis

The main factor that contributes to infection is low immunity. Moreover, in this regard, the fall of both general and local protective forces is dangerous.

The main causes of infection with herpetic stomatitis:

• Change of climatic zones.
• Hypothermia or overheating of the body.
• Injury to the lips or mucous membranes of the mouth.
• Poor oral hygiene.
• Disorders of the neuropsychic plan.
• Exacerbation of chronic diseases (tonsillitis, sinusitis, gingivitis, periodontitis, etc.).
• Allergic reactions of the body.
• The presence of carious teeth.
• Taking corticosteroids. These drugs help suppress the inflammatory response, while at the same time they suppress the immune system.
• Vitamin deficiency.
• Presence of tartar.
• Viral and bacterial infections, including ARVI and HIV.

The herpes virus, once it enters the body, remains in it forever. Therefore, from time to time he may remind of himself.

The following factors are the cause of exacerbation of herpetic stomatitis:

• Hormonal imbalance.
• Trauma to the mucous membranes of the oral cavity.
• Dehydration of the body.
• Poor quality dental prosthetics.
• Drying of the oral mucosa.
• Undergoing chemotherapy.
• Serious inaccuracies in the diet.

Forms of the disease

Herpetic stomatitis can occur in two forms: acute and chronic.

The acute form of the disease takes place in several stages:

• Incubation stage. After infection and before the first symptoms appear, it can take up to 3 weeks.
• Catarrhal stage. During this period, the first symptoms of the disease appear. It lasts from 2 hours to a day.
• Acute stage. During this period, the maximum activity of the virus is observed. The duration of this phase is 2-4 days.
• The stage of extinction of symptoms. It takes up to 4 days.
• Regeneration stage. At this time, the affected areas of the oral mucosa are restored.

The chronic form can occur in two ways:

• The mild course of chronic herpetic stomatitis is characterized by relapses of the disease, which occur no more than once every 6 months.
• The severe course of the disease is accompanied by frequent relapses, which can occur more than 6 times a year.

Symptoms of herpetic stomatitis

The main symptom of herpetic stomatitis is ulcers on the lips. They are small in size and filled with liquid. Other symptoms of the disease will depend on the form of the disease.

Acute herpetic stomatitis

Acute herpetic stomatitis is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Increased general weakness.
• Oral discomfort.
• Headaches.
• Drowsiness.
• Increased submandibular lymph nodes in size.
• Increase in body temperature. Sometimes it remains at subfebrile levels and does not last long,and sometimes reaches febrile values and lasts for a week.
• Formation of vesicles on the mucous membrane of the oral cavity. They can be concentrated on the inner surface of the cheeks, on the lips. The blisters cause itching and burning. Over time, they burst, after opening a colorless liquid comes out of them.

If you do not start treatment of acute herpetic stomatitis in time, it will become chronic. Ulcers do not have time to heal, new defects form in their place. This significantly complicates the process of eating, and sometimes makes it impossible.

Chronic herpetic stomatitis

Chronic herpetic stomatitis develops in people with low immunity. It recurs several times a year. Sometimes the number of exacerbations reaches 6. The weaker a person's own defenses, the more intense the symptoms of the disease. An unpleasant odor emanates from the patient's mouth. The entire inner surface of the cheeks is covered with scars. There is always plaque on the tongue.

In the chronic form of stomatitis caused by the herpes virus, secondary symptoms of the disease do not appear. That is, the patient's body temperature does not rise, the lymph nodes do not increase in size, the gums do not bleed. The general well-being suffers in general, which is manifested by weakness and increased fatigue.

Herpetic stomatitis in children

In the chronic form of stomatitis caused by the herpes virus, secondary symptoms of the disease do not appear. That is, the patient's body temperature does not rise, the lymph nodes do not increase in size, the gums do not bleed. The general well-being suffers in general, which is manifested by weakness and increased fatigue.

Herpetic stomatitis in children

In the chronic form of stomatitis caused by the herpes virus, secondary symptoms of the disease do not appear. That is, the patient's body temperature does not rise, the lymph nodes do not increase in size, the gums do not bleed. General well-being suffers in general, which is manifested by weakness and increased fatigue.

Herpetic stomatitis in children

Herpetic stomatitis in children

Herpetic stomatitis in children

Herpetic stomatitis in childhood often develops. Sometimes the disease is diagnosed even in infants, but mainly children over six months are exposed to the herpes virus. Until that time, antibodies received from the mother circulate in their blood. They protect the child from the herpes virus.

The onset of infection is acute, accompanied by an increase in body temperature and the appearance of bubbles in the oral cavity. The overall immune defense is reduced.

Herpetic stomatitis often recurs before the age of 3 years. This is due to the disappearance of maternal antibodies, as well as the immaturity of the baby's immunity.

In childhood, the disease can take the following forms:

• Acute form. Thus, the herpes virus manifests itself after the initial infection.
• Chronic recurrent herpes.
• Generalized herpes infection. It develops in babies who are born without maternal antibodies. Lack of protection leads to the formation of large areas of necrosis in the oral cavity. This form of the disease can lead to sepsis, with damage to internal organs and the brain. The more severe the course of the pathology, the higher the risks of developing a lethal outcome.

Diagnostics

Only a dentist can make a correct diagnosis. The doctor examines the affected area, assesses the general well-being of the patient, examines his medical record. This allows you to assess the severity of herpetic stomatitis and the stage of its development.

If, after examination, the doctor still has doubts about the accuracy of the diagnosis, then laboratory diagnostics are required: virological, immunological, molecular biological, cytological.

For research, you will need to scrape bubbles or erosions. The resulting material is stained using the Romanovsky-Giemsa method, which allows the herpes virus to be detected. Also, the doctor determines the presence of macrophages and polymorphonuclear neutrophils in the tissues.

Differential diagnosis with other diseases

Herpetic stomatitis can give similar symptoms to some viral diseases.

In order to correctly determine the infection, it is necessary to carry out differential diagnostics with such pathologies as:

• Exudative erythema multiforme.
• Some viral infections: herpetic sore throat, foot and mouth disease and vesicular stomatitis.
• Bacterial stomatitis.
• Enteroviral vesicular stomatitis with exanthema.
• Herpes of lips and skin.
• Allergy.

It is difficult to make a differential diagnosis only on the basis of an external examination. Therefore, patients are prescribed special tests and samples that are carried out in a laboratory.

Treatment of herpetic stomatitis

Sometimes herpetic stomatitis is mild and goes away on its own. However, this is not always the case. Often, the disease provokes the appearance of severe symptoms, so it will be difficult to cope with it without therapy. The treatment regimen is based on the characteristics of the course of the disease in each case. The therapy is carried out in two directions: local effects and general treatment.

General therapy

General therapy involves the following steps:

• The use of antiviral drugs. They are prescribed in the first 5-7 days from the onset of the disease. It can be such drugs as: Zovirax, Acyclovir, Virolex, Bonafton, Famciclovir.
• Antihistamines that can help reduce symptoms of infection. Herpes is not an allergic disease, but it increases the body's sensitization to other substances that, against the background of absolute health, did not cause allergies. Therefore, the dentist may prescribe the intake of drugs such as: Tavegil, Claritin, Suprastin, Fenkarol.
• Medications to lower body temperature and relieve pain.
• Vitamin and mineral complexes. To increase the patient's immunity, he is prescribed vitamin C, vitamin R. They can be taken both separately and in combination.
• Preparations to increase immunity: Imudon, Timogen, Sodium Nucleinate, Polyoxidonium, Timalin, Likopid.

Local therapy

Topical treatment is critical to getting rid of herpetic stomatitis:

• Pain relief drugs. These can be applications and lotions using a solution of Lidocaine, Pyromecaine, Trimecaine.
• Antiseptic drugs. They allow you to disinfect the oral cavity. For this purpose, a solution of Furacilin or potassium permanganate is used.
• Enzyme preparations. They cleanse the mucous membranes of dead tissue, have antiviral and proteolytic effects. Patients with herpetic stomatitis are prescribed Lysoamidase 1%, or Deoxyribonuclease 0.2%. They are applied topically.
• Antiviral drugs in the form of ointments and applications. The most effective ointments for herpetic stomatitis: Tebrofen ointment 2%, Helepin ointment 1-5%, Florenal ointment 1-2%, Gossypola liniment 3%.
• Means for the fastest tissue regeneration: sea buckthorn or rosehip oil, vitamin A in oil solution, Solcoseryl.
• Preparations with antibacterial effect. Adult patients are prescribed medications such as: Hexoral spray, Cholisal dental gel (has not only antimicrobial effect, but also analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects), Kamistad, Actovegin.
• Aniline dyes (brilliant green solution) treat the skin with it if herpetic eruptions appear on it.

It is necessary to treat with ointment not only the affected area, but also the adjacent tissues.

Video: Professor of the Department of Pediatric Therapeutic Dentistry, Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, Ph. D. Strakhova Svetlana Yurievna will tell you what to do with herpetic stomatitis:

Prevention

In order to prevent the development of herpetic stomatitis, the following preventive measures must be observed:

• Visit your dentist regularly and get the treatment you need.
• Sanitize all foci of chronic infection, including those located in the ENT organs.
• Improve immunity.
• Avoid burns and mechanical injuries.
• Take good care of the oral cavity.

Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist

Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".