Viral mouth infection

Description

Herpes stomatitis or viral mouth infection. A contagious viral disease caused by the virus type herpes simplex 1 (HSV). For small children this can be their first contact with herpes virus, which results in systemic disease with high temperature, blisters, ulcers in the mouth and gum inflammation. The adults can have repeated manifestactions just in form of «a fever blisters«. The fever blisters can disappear although HSV virus remains innactive within the nerve cells. HSV lesions may reccur when the patient experiences emotional or physical stress.

Symptoms

Fever, blisters and ulcers in the mouth, poor appetite, slobbering, difficult swallowing, swollen gums.

Overview

History of disease is being taken and physical examination is being done. Smear of the blister content is done orfluorescent antibody test to set up diagnosis.

Specialists

General Practice, Internal Medicine

Therapy

Treatment includesantiviral therapy (acyclovir),nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (brufen/ibuprofen, naproxen), and painkillers like paracetamol.