Mouth rot is a disease that mainly affects the mucous membrane of the throat and mouth. It is caused by the herpes virus and is also known as gingivostomatitis herpetica. The mouth rot is very painful and occurs mainly in small children up to the age of 3 years.
Due to the viral pathogen, only a limited number of symptomatic medicines are available. Mouth rot is characterized by small blisters on the oral mucosa. Sometimes the vesicles also open and painful small mucous membrane defects develop.
Causes
Mouth rot is caused by viral pathogens from the herpes virus group. Herpes infections can occur not only on the mucous membranes of the mouth but also on the lips and the genitals, and can also become apparent through shingles on one or more parts of the body. More than half of all people carry the herpes virus inside themselves.
For many of them it will not cause any complaints or diseases in the course of their lives. In children up to the age of three, however, the herpes virus can cause oral thrush. In rare cases, adults can also be affected by mouth rot.
Symptoms
The first symptoms of oral thrush are reddening of the inner mucous membrane of the cheeks or throat and small aching blisters, which may also be open and thus cause defects in the mucous membrane. Another typical symptom of mouth rot is a moderate to severe fever, which can be particularly pronounced at noon and in the evening. Patients usually describe a sour taste and also exhibit unpleasant bad breath.
A strong salivation is also typical for the presence of oral thrush. Patients have to swallow more often, which additionally reduces the quality of life. Since it is an infection, the body reacts more or less strongly with its immune system.
Thus, lymph nodes swell in the typical places, such as under the arms and in the groin and neck. The lymph nodes are also painful under pressure and may be slightly reddened. Sometimes the entire neck can also be painful from the outside.
It is important for the doctor to also check the tonsils, as tonsillitis or a lateral strangulation can also be responsible for the symptoms. You can find out more about lateral gangina at Inflammation of the throat fever is a common concomitant symptom of gingivostomatitis herpetica, and it is usually only when the fever develops that the affected person or the parents of the affected child become aware of the disease. The fever temperature can exceed 40 degrees, but should be under medical observation, as temperatures above 42 degrees are life-threatening.
Therefore, antipyretic medication is used to prevent the fever from rising too high. For small children these are available as suppositories or in juice form, for adults or young people these are in tablet form. Household remedies such as calf compresses or a cooled washcloth on the forehead can also be used for support.
In gingivostomatitis herpetica, not only the mucous membranes in the mouth and throat area but also the tongue and palate can be affected by the symptoms. The occurrence of erosions and blisters on the tongue is particularly painful because the tongue is constantly in motion and in contact with other structures. The contact with the teeth, the floor of the mouth and the palate causes constant friction and severe discomfort. Those affected can treat the tongue with anaesthetic gels to make eating and speaking a little more bearable. The symptoms subside completely without scarring once the disease has been eliminated.
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