Herpetic Gingivostomatitis

What is Herpetic Gingivostomatitis?

Herpetic Gingivostomatitis is the fusion of stomatitis and gingivitis or in layman’s term as the inflammation of the gingival and the oral mucosa. It is known to have lesions found in the mouth’s soft tissues and those surrounding the lips.  This kind of disease condition is caused by a virus, particularly the herpes simplex virus type 1 or otherwise called as HSV-1. You get this virus through sexually transmission via contact of the saliva of the infected person or perhaps through open lesions or non living things. In addition to that, it is known to cause blisters which are painful and ulcers in the person’s skin that surrounds the mouth area. The common persons who suffer from this disease are adults who have HSV-1. It peaks at around children who ages 2-4 years of age.


Herpetic Gingivostomatitis on the Lips Pics

Lesions on the oral Mucosa and Lips with Gingival Inflammation

Herpetic Gingivostomatitis Types

Primary Herpetic Gingivostomatitis

It affects both young adults as well as children who are in the age of 6months to 6 years old. It is far the most common of the acute form of viral infection of the person’s oral mucosa cavity. In addition to that, it is the initial form of the HSV-1 condition in children. Most often, when one is inflicted with this disease condition, will not manifest any symptoms except for cold like signs. Yet, the bad thing about this condition is that once a person has this virus inside his or her body, the virus will stay there forever. It is a transmissible kind of infection. There might be a possibility that the person develops pharngotonsillitis which has a characteristic of sore throat that is severe, vesiculo-ulcerative kind of lesions and swallowing difficulties. The healing for such will be approximately 1-2 weeks. The treatment for this kind of diagnosis is based on the symptoms that the person manifests.

Acute Herpetic Gingivostomatitis

Complications of encephalitis includes pain which spreads throughout the areas surrounding the mouth. In addition to that, there is a possibility for reinfection to occur due to the direct contact of the sun. One common symptom is the tingling sensation felt by the person who has a condition of HSV-1. In treating this disease condition, the person is given antibiotics to kill the causative virus. Aside from that, the person is advised and encouraged to increase his or her fluid intake and usage of anesthetic mouthwash or mouthwash containing baking soda.

Herpetic Gingivostomatitis Symptoms

The common symptoms that a person who is diagnosed with Herpetic Gingivostomatitis will manifest the following:

  • Mouth blisters
  • Lesions in either the tongue or mouth
  • Ulcers in the mouth
  • Pain in tongue or mouth
  • Swelling of the lips
  • Dysphagia or having difficulty in swallowing episodes
  • Neck’s glands is swollen
  • Soreness of the person’s throat

Pictures of Herpetic Gingivostomatitis On the Throat

Lesions in the Throat of a Patient with Herpetic Gingivostomatitis

Additional symptoms may include:

  • Drooling excessively
  • Fever that is high
  • Bad breath
  • Irritable
  • Headache
  • Body malaise or weakness of the body
  • Lympadenopathy
  • Vomiting
  • Fussiness especially in infants
  • Infants have difficulty feeding
  • Oral Rashes which may be uncommon to some
  • Sleeplessness

In children, this kind of condition is misdiagnosed as the stage of the child known as teething episode or stage. It is known to be such because coincidentally, the disease appears when the child or infant is about to undergo his or her primary or first tooth eruption. The infants are at high risk for this condition because it is the time when their maternal antibody protection is lost and making them a high candidate for infection to invade such as this kind of infection cause disease.

Herpetic Gingivostomatitis Diagnosis

Normally, the person does not undergo test to be diagnosed with Herpetic Gingivostomatitis. Only physical examination and medical history may be required. Yet, some doctors would go about doing examinations such as:

  • Biopsy Exam
  • Viral Culture Exams which may be collected via fluid of the sore areas

Either of the exams both is performed by excising a small amount of tissue sample to be tested for the confirmation of Herpetic Gingivostomatitis. Sometimes, a cotton swab is rubbed on the area of the sore to be able to get cells from it and be tested for the possibility of HSV-1.

Herpetic Gingivostomatitis Treatment

Most often, the persons who are diagnosed with this disease does not require treatment for this condition will resolve after approximately 4-6 days. Yet, if the condition does not resolve after that, the person is prescribed with the following treatment such as:

  • Oral Anesthetics such as: Anbesol, Chloraseptic, Cepacol, Orajel
  • NSAIDs or Nonsteroidal Anti Inflammatory Medications which is used to manage pain
  • Antibiotic which also cleans the blisters
  • Hydrogen Peroxide which is used for cleansing of the blisters
  • Antiviral medications such as: Penciclovir, Famciclovir, Acyclovir

The goal of these medications is for the reduction of the symptoms associated with this disease condition. Aside from this medication it is also importantly stressed that the person has to practice good hygiene with regards to their oral health by brushing daily gently and keeping the oral system clean. Also, it is encouraged that the person consumes a diet that is nutritious and well balanced. It is suggested that the person eats bland, soft, non spicy food to be able to reduce any eating discomfort. It may also be good to offer cool drinks or foods such as gelatin, apple sauce or treats that are frozen.

The person should stay away from, as much as possible, foods that are salty or foods and beverages that are high in acid or acidic in nature. Aside from that, it is need to let the afflicted person get enough needed rest and prevent spreading the virus to others by prevention of sharing drinks, foots, unclean non living things and washing of hands. When condition seems to worsen, the doctor may do debridement of the mouth in a gentle matter. This kind of procedure is decided upon by the physician.

Herpetic Gingivostomatitis Pictures

pics of Herpetic Gingivostomatitis on the tongue

Herpetic Gingivostomatitis Showing Lesions in the Tongue

Bleeding Herpetic Gingivostomatitis images

Bleeding Lesions in the Lips

Images of Severe Herpetic Gingivostomatitis

A Severe Form of Herpetic Gingivostomatitis of the Mouth Indicating Oral Gangrene

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