So the course of the mouth rot is

Mouth rot in children often begins with fever, which can also be quite high in some cases. The fever usually lasts up to five days. After the first two to three days, blisters and aphthae are usually formed on the mucous membrane of the mouth.

Predominantly localized on the palate and gums, but the inner sides of the lips and tongue can also be affected. The gums can also swell. In the first few days there is usually no pain, only when the mouth rot has spread further and small open wounds develop in addition to the increased blisters.

This results in a burning, persistent pain, so that eating is only possible to a very limited extent. Gum bleeding can also occur and the gums turn a darker red. Since the tongue is also inflamed, the papillae of the tongue may appear whitish.

The inflammation can also cause the tongue to swell, which can lead to additional difficulty swallowing. The cervical lymph nodes can also swell during this time. After about a week the blisters dry out and the wounds heal. Only then does the pain subside and the acute danger of infection no longer exists.

Course of oral thrush
Aphtae – Different treatment options

So dangerously the mouth rot can become

Due to the fever and the strong pain in the mouth, the children feel very weak and often refuse to eat, especially regular and sufficient drinking is very important. It is not uncommon for the child to dehydrate (dry out), which can lead to dangerous conditions. If the infant does not want to eat and drink, the pediatrician should be consulted immediately.

Babies and infants are particularly at risk. They can develop severe mouth rot and even inflammation of the brain. The disease is then called herpes simplex encephalitis. If there is an additional infection of the skin near the eye, in the worst case this can lead to an infection of the cornea in the eye.This topic might also be of interest to you: Fluid deficiency in children