▲Herpetic gingivitis often occurs in children under the age of 5, usually with a high fever for several days, gradually accompanied by sore throat, drooling, and refusal to eat; the picture shows the situation.

(picture taken from shutterstock)

Text/Su Zhiwan

A 3-year-old boy has had a high fever for 4 days, and his appetite is getting worse and worse. He has no cough or runny nose. The first doctor who saw the doctor only said that his throat was a little inflamed, but because the symptoms did not relieve, his parents brought him for another examination.

After a detailed examination, it was found that his gums were red and swollen, and blisters and ulcers appeared on his oral mucosa. Because of his poor appetite and high fever for several days, his spirit was relatively poor.

Mouth sores, red and swollen gums

Multiple oral ulcers in children are commonly caused by enterovirus and herpetic gingivitis, such as papules, blisters, and pustules combined with the skin. The possibility of chickenpox should also be considered.

However, monkeypox, which has recently appeared in China, has a higher risk of infection through sexual contact with adults.

Please read on...

Occurrence in children under 5 years old

Herpes simplex virus, young children are mainly infected with type 1.

The symptoms of herpetic gingivitis can be very severe when first infected, and it usually occurs in children under the age of 5.

Often there will be a high fever for several days, gradually accompanied by sore throat, drooling, refusal to eat, and bad mouth.

The initial examination will reveal red and swollen tonsils, but then the gums will be red and swollen, even bleeding, and blisters will appear in the mouth and tongue, which will gradually turn into ulcers.

It takes 10 days to 2 weeks for the ulcer to completely improve. If the baby does not eat well, it may cause dehydration. Be careful not to spread to the skin around the mouth and eyes.

After the initial infection, the virus can remain in the body, and in older children, there is a chance of repeated infections.

The symptoms of the second infection will be milder, mainly producing clusters of painful blisters or pustules around the mouth or around the corners of the mouth, which will turn into scabs after the pustules burst, and the course of the disease is about 7-10 days.

The course of exposure to infectious diseases is about 7-10 days

Herpes virus is mainly transmitted by contact. If an adult has a mild or asymptomatic infection, it may still be transmitted by sharing food or kissing children.

Especially if there are newborns, children with immunodeficiency, or children with chronic severe eczema in the family, they are all susceptible to infection and the symptoms will be severe, so special attention should be paid.

Severe herpes virus infection can also cause encephalitis or systemic septic shock, so don't be careless.

For initial infection with herpetic gingivitis, early treatment with antiviral drugs can reduce the severity and duration of the disease, improve eating conditions, and reduce the possibility of dehydration.

However, if the baby has a fever and the initial symptoms are not obvious, it may not be possible to accurately judge it. Therefore, if the symptoms change or persist, you should return to the clinic for examination.

Close communication and contact with your pediatrician can give your baby the best protection and treatment.

(The author is a physician at Tainan Cai Shangjun Pediatric Clinic)

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keywords

  • Enterovirus

  • health care

  • mouth ulcers

  • herpetic gingivitis

  • high fever in children

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