Pimples in the mouth of babies

Pimples are always to be distinguished from aphtae, since aphtae can come very close to a pimple in appearance. Pus pimples are caused by bacteria and are rather rare in babies. If a pimple is indeed a pus pimple, it should be observed if possible.

Depending on how accessible the baby is, the opening of the pimple can be considered. However, in most cases this is rather difficult due to the lack of cooperation and possible pain. More common than the pus pimple are typical childhood diseases such as hand-foot-mouth disease, which is caused by cocksackievirus A and is associated with the formation of aphthae in the oral mucosa.

The aphthae present themselves as small, partly confluent vesicles, which are covered with a whitish layer (fibrin layer) and therefore give the impression of pus. Often, after a few days, there is also a small spotty, knotty rash on the soles of the feet and palms of the hands. The disease is only treated symptomatically and in most cases it stops independently after a short time.

Cause for pus pimples in the mouth

The cause of pimples in general is an excessive production of sebum by the many sebaceous glands of our body. Sebaceous glands are located at the hair roots and secrete sebum in the hair area. That is why pimples are only found on hairy areas – but mainly on the face and scalp.

Since our face is exposed to a particular amount of germs and bacteria every day, almost all of us have to fight with pus pimples on our face from time to time. But how do pus pimples develop in the mouth area, where neither hair nor sebaceous glands are located? First of all, a distinction must be made between actual pus pimples and so-called aphtae.

Aphtae are small, very painful whitish yellow spots, which are, however, flat in contrast to pus pimples. They have a clearly defined “edge seam” and burn very strongly when eating, during certain movements with the tongue, and especially when eating vinegar-containing food. They can also appear in several places at once, and then even make talking a pain.

Actual pus pimples in the mouth are relatively rare, as already mentioned, because there are no sebaceous glands. There are, however, the so-called Fordyce glands – harmless sebaceous glands that appear in “unusual” places in the body. By unusual is meant that normally no sebaceous glands would be expected there.

They like to manifest themselves in the genital area, but also in the mouth-throat area, and they are initially without disease. However, if they become blocked or inflamed, they can also lead to pus pimples in the mouth. Fordyce glands impress by the way as small, yellowish spots on the lip, tongue, or oral mucosa.

A third cause are the three salivary glands located on each side of our mouth: One distinguishes between the parotid gland in front of the auricle, the mandibular parotid gland, which lies halfway up the lower jaw, and the sublingual parotid gland, which lies under the tongue. A blockage of one of the three salivary glands, for example by a salivary stone, leads to redness and swelling in the oral cavity, a painful feeling of pressure, and a reddish-white clot at the excretory duct of the gland, which can appear like a pimple. To find the exact cause of the pus pimples in the mouth, an inspection in front of a mirror is suitable. The three causes can be easily distinguished from each other. In case of doubt, a visit to your family doctor can also help.