Gingivostomatitis herpetica – colloquially called oral thrush – (synonyms: Herpes gingivostomatitis; Stomatitis aphthosa; Aphthous stomatitis; Stomatitis herpetica; ICD-10-GM B00.2: Gingivostomatitis herpetica and Pharyngotonsillitis herpetica) is an inflammatory disease of the oral mucosa (stomatitis) and gums (gingivitis) caused by the herpes virus (herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)). The herpes virus is a pathogen from the group of DNA viruses, from the family Herpesviridae. In humans, the virus causes skin and mucosal rashes.
Humans currently represent the only relevant pathogen reservoir.
Occurrence: The infection occurs worldwide.
The contagiousness of the herpes simplex virus type 1 is very high. The infection rate is over 90% of the population (in Germany).
The transmission (infection route) of the HSV-1 type occurs orally through saliva (droplet infection) and as smear infection.
The entry of the pathogen occurs parenterally (the pathogen does not penetrate through the intestine), i.e. in this case, it enters the body through the skin (slightly injured skin; percutaneous infection) and through the mucous membranes (permucous infection).
The incubation period (time from infection to onset of disease) for primary infection with HSV-1 is usually between 2-12 days.
Peak incidence: primary infection usually occurs in children between 10 months and 3 years of age, and in rare cases in early adulthood.
Course and prognosis: Primary infection with HSV-1 (herpes simplex virus type 1) is clinically inapparent in most cases, i.e. the disease does not manifest itself. In about 1% of the first manifestation, it appears as gingivostomatitis herpetica (oral thrush).-1 (herpes simplex virus type 1) becomes active for the first time, it appears as gingivostomatitis herpetica (oral thrush) (= primary infection). The clinical picture is accompanied by fever and swelling of the lymph nodes. The vesicles are usually very painful for the affected person and can lead to significant restrictions in speaking or in the intake of food and liquids. Particularly in children, care should be taken to ensure that they drink enough. After about 1 week, the disease heals spontaneously (by itself) without scarring. Only then is the disease no longer contagious. Part of the virus remains in the ganglia (nerve nodules) of the body and can reappear as blisters on the lips (cold sores) or in the mucous membranes of the mouth and nose if the immune system is weakened.
Vaccination: a vaccine against gingivostomatitis herpetica or herpes simplex viruses is not yet available, but is under development.
