The herpes virus can cause thrush and sores in the mouth, tongue, cheek or inner part of the lips which is an infection known as Herpetic Stomatitis or Herpetic Gingivostomatitis. Stomatitis is a condition that causes inflammation, pain or swelling in the mouth, which can have different causes, in this case Herpetic Stomatitis caused specifically by herpes virus HSV type 1 and rarely by type 2.
This infection is more common in babies between 6 months and 5 years of age, sometimes also in young people, which may occur when there is contact with the virus.
Main Symptoms
The main symptoms caused by Herpetic Stomatitis include:
- Small ulcers or sores on the gums, tongue, cheek or inner part of the lips.
- Redness in the gums;
- Pain in the mouth;
- Bleeding and bad breath in the mouth;
- General malaise and irritability
- Swelling and tenderness in the mouth;
In addition, in severe cases, difficulties in talking or eating and loss of appetite may also arise due to the pain caused by ulcers and sores that appear in the mouth, and episodes of fever may also occur.
When this problem arises in babies it is known as Herpetic Infantile Stomatitis and causes very malaise, irritability, bad breath and fever in the baby.
How is the treatment done?
The treatment for herpetic stomatitis lasts between 10 to 14 days and is done with antiviral pills in tablets or ointments, such as Aciclovir or Zovirax for example.
In addition, it is also important to drink plenty of water during the treatment to maintain hydration, as well as avoid acidic foods such as orange, passion fruit, lemon or pineapple that can irritate the wounds and cause more pain.
To avoid the discomfort of the symptoms, it is also recommended to make a more liquid or pasty diet, based on creams, soups, mingles, purees and potatoes.
