Gingivostomatitis herpetica

Gingivostomatitis herpetica or “mouth rot” can already occur in newborns. Here, caution and direct therapy is required, as the not yet well developed immune system poses the risk of herpes – encephalitis, which can cause permanent brain and eye damage. It should be strictly observed that there is sufficient fluid intake and whether there is still sufficient lacrimation and urine excretion to rule out dehydration.

In particularly severe cases, antivirals such as Aciclovir are also used in newborns to prevent complications and permanent damage. Anaesthetic gels to facilitate food intake and antipyretic drugs as suppositories are also indicated. The exact dosage must be ordered by the pediatrician.

Children between two and four years of age are the primary age group for the disease gingivostomatitis herpetica. As with all infectious diseases, the initial infection is relatively mild in comparison to adults. In most children with an intact immune system, “mouth rot” only lasts for one week and then subsides completely.

Herpes simplex viruses are usually transmitted by the parents if the child is kissed during an outbreak of lip herpes or if cutlery and drinking glasses are shared. During the illness, care should be taken not to give spicy or especially hot food and drinks, so as not to increase the symptoms. In general, it is important that a sufficient amount of liquid is consumed.

In children, the pain of drinking can quickly lead to dehydration due to a refusal to drink. Finger-sucking and nail-biting should also be prevented, otherwise there is a risk of nail bed infection. Preference should be given to cool food and strict bed rest.

However, complications such as meningoencephalitis, an inflammation of the brain and meninges, are feared in children. Meningoencephalitis occurs primarily in children who are already weakened by previous infectious diseases such as measles or scarlet fever and whose immune system is therefore unable to fight the viruses sufficiently. The “mouth rot” or gingivostomatitis herpetica can also occur in adulthood.

As with all infectious diseases in early childhood, initial infections in adults can have a much more severe course as a consequence. In adults, infection with type 1 of the Herpes Simplex Virus occurs mainly in patients whose immune system is downregulated by medication, such as after chemotherapy or in HIV disease. The same applies to adults as to children.Strict bed rest and avoiding physical contact with fellow human beings is required.

Furthermore, a lot of drinking is necessary to avoid dehydration. Fever-lowering medication and antivirals are prescribed by the doctor or dentist if necessary for severe symptoms. It can happen that women fall ill with oral thrush during pregnancy itself.

In most cases, they have been infected by one of their children, who had contracted the disease himself. Mouth rot is caused by the herpes virus, which almost every second person carries within him or her. An outbreak during pregnancy is not dangerous for the pregnant woman or the unborn child.

Treatment with Aciclovir is rarely necessary. It should also be remembered that a cure with Aciclovir can take almost as long as the body’s own immune system. Most important is the symptomatic treatment of the woman. So if fever occurs during pregnancy, the fever should be lowered with paracetamol and not with ibuprofen. Furthermore, chamomile or ointment solutions can help the painful lesions in the mouth area to heal faster and be less painful.