Causes

As mentioned, many people get infected with the herpes virus without even noticing it. It is transmitted through direct physical contact. Thus over 90% of people carry the virus inside themselves.

In rare cases, the first contact with the virus occurs only at an advanced age. If oral thrush occurs at this age, it is important to take a close look at the patient’s state of health. Immunodeficiencies, i.e. a weakened immune system, often represent an increased risk of contracting mouth rot.

If one gets the mouth rot as an adult, one can assume that one has not been infected with the herpes virus before and that the body is now dealing with the virus in a stronger form due to a weakness of the immune system. This confrontation shows itself in the clinical picture of mouth rot and usually ends in an immunity against a renewed suffering from mouth rot. The lip herpes that many people know is a common symptom of the virus, which can also occur afterwards.

Duration

Four to six days after the initial infection, a general feeling of illness usually follows for two days, with fatigue, fever, aching limbs and nausea. After that, the typical changes in the oral mucosa in the form of blisters occur. The signs of the disease subside after about five days. After one to two weeks, one should feel fit again and the sore spots in the mouth should have healed. As a rule, there are no scars caused by oral thrush, i.e. after two weeks there is absolutely no sign of the symptoms of the disease.

Incubation period

The incubation period, i.e. the time that elapses from the first contact with the herpes virus until the first sign of oral thrush, is estimated to be four to six days. There are also cases that deviate from this norm. The incubation period also depends on the state of health of the infected person and how quickly their immune system can fight the virus.