Stomatitis in children is a common ailment, defined as a heterogeneous group of pathologies with different etiologies. At an early age, the disease can be the result of infections that are associated with an underdeveloped immune system or inflammation. Injury to the mucous membrane of the oral cavity can provoke pathology due to the desire to constantly taste objects, because this is how the baby learns the world around it. In children, the disease is acute with concomitant intoxication. That is why the treatment of bacterial stomatitis in children should be comprehensive.
Classification of stomatitis
Stomatitis in childhood is divided according to several signs: according to the pathogen, the course of the disease, morphological changes, the causes of the disease, and clinical manifestations. According to the causative agent, stomatitis can be divided into the following groups:
- viral, provoked by chickenpox, herpes or measles;
- bacterial, provokes tuberculosis, scarlet fever, streptococcus and gonococcus;
- fungal, provoked by candidiasis;
- fusospiripleous, provokes Vincent’s ulcerative necrotic stomatitis.
With the course of stomatitis is acute and chronic.
According to morphological changes, primary and secondary are distinguished.
Provoke the cause of the disease can:
- trauma to the oral mucosa;
- allergic reaction;
- violation of the structure of the mucosa, which provokes diseases of such organs: liver, stomach, intestines, central nervous system.
According to the clinical manifestations, stomatitis is divided into three groups: catarrhal, aphthous, necrotic. But let us dwell in more detail on bacterial stomatitis. Treatment in children is selected depending on the individual characteristics of the course of the disease.
What triggers bacterial stomatitis in children?
The disease is most often caused by bacteria that are constantly present in the child’s mouth, but, under certain factors, can easily become pathogenic.
Provoke bacterial stomatitis in children, the treatment features in each case are different, such factors can:
- injuries of the oral mucosa: scratches, cracks, cuts and wounds;
- tooth decay;
- purulent processes on the gums;
- violation of the rules of antiseptics during operations or dental procedures;
- decreased immunity.
Symptoms of bacterial stomatitis in children
The treatment of bacterial stomatitis in children depends on the symptoms, because many young patients have a temperature that requires the use of antipyretic drugs. But there are other symptoms that indicate pathology:
- pain when eating spicy and sour foods;
- weakness and malaise;
- small sores;
- yellow plaque on the tongue and inside of the cheeks;
- bad breath appears from the mouth;
- swelling and bleeding of the gums;
- refusal of food;
- increased saliva.
Any unpleasant manifestations in a child should force parents to visit a doctor and not self-medicate.
Signs of stomatitis in infants
Stomatitis can occur in children of any age, but, most often, they are infants. Such symptoms of bacterial stomatitis in children can indicate the development of the ailment (the doctor selects the treatment after confirming the diagnosis):
- tearfulness, nervousness and irritability;
- baby refuses food;
- temperature rises;
- the appearance of small sores on the lips and oral mucosa;
- redness of the oral mucosa;
- the appearance of a white or yellowish coating on the tongue.
In some cases, additional symptoms may indicate the underlying disease. Treatment of bacterial stomatitis in children in this case should be comprehensive, helping to eliminate the pathology. The causes of the development of the disease can be:
- inflammatory processes of the eyes, nasal mucosa, genitals;
- Behcet's syndrome;
- digestive upset;
- Crohn's disease;
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
Forms of the course of the disease in children
Today, doctors share three main forms of bacterial stomatitis in children, treatment is selected in accordance with the symptoms:
- Impetiginous stomatitis. The disease initially has the nature of infection with streptococci. This form is most often manifested in young children in the form of erosion on the oral mucosa. On the surface of the cheeks on the inside and on the tongue you can notice a yellow coating, and if you remove it, bleeding is noted.
- Erysipelas. This form is caused by streptococci. Inflammation develops, which leads to swelling of the mucous membrane, raspberry spots appear that cause pain. Bleeding is noted, and in severe cases, the child has blisters, ulcers and small particles of dead tissue. Erysipelas is accompanied by general malaise, fever. If the child’s immune system is weakened, and the treatment of bacterial stomatitis in children is improperly selected, a serious complication may develop - blood poisoning.
- Jams in the corners of the mouth. This condition can easily be considered a bacterial form of stomatitis. Initially, an abscess appears in the corner of the mouth, over time it breaks through and an ulcer appears. If, in the future, an ulcer is injured, then it will not heal for a long time, and after that it will turn into a crack that captures the mucous membrane of the cheek.
Correctly selected treatment of bacterial stomatitis in children (there can be many reasons for it) is a guarantee that the infection will not go further and will not provoke serious complications. But before starting therapy, parents are better acquainted with the general rules.
What do parents need to know?
Treatment of bacterial stomatitis in children and adults should be carried out in compliance with certain recommendations:
- Food. Food for a child with stomatitis should be warm, soft and, if possible, chopped. At the time of treatment should exclude products that irritate the mucous membrane of the mouth, spicy and acidic dishes. If it is difficult to swallow, then the baby can drink through a straw. A baby who is breastfed should be applied more often to her breast.
- Drink plenty. One of the symptoms of bacterial stomatitis in children and adults (treatment without taking it into account will be more difficult) is the constant drying of the mucosa. Therefore, you need to periodically drink compote, warm tea or mineral water.
- Humidification in the room. If the room where the sick child is located is too hot and dry, then the mucous membrane of the mouth will dry out quickly, and this should not be allowed with any type of stomatitis.
- The use of antiseptic solutions.
- The use of painkillers and antiseptic ointments, drops or tablets.
- The use of oil solutions.
- Strengthening the immune system, fortified nutrition or taking vitamins from pharmacies.
- Good oral hygiene. After eating, rinse your mouth well. Using toothpaste and brush during the acute phase of stomatitis can be uncomfortable, therefore, during the treatment of bacterial stomatitis in children, the photo confirms this, you need to use a soft brush. Removing plaque from the cheeks and tongue will help to quickly cope with inflammatory processes.
There are many ways to infect bacterial stomatitis in children, the treatment in each case may differ. The appointment of therapy should be done only by a specialist.
Medical methods for the treatment of bacterial stomatitis in children
If parents noticed that the first symptoms of bacterial stomatitis appeared in children, then treatment methods should be selected individually for everyone, and only by a specialist.
The first thing to do after a diagnosis of "bacterial stomatitis" is to treat the oral mucosa with a solution of soda (a teaspoon is diluted in a glass of warm water). But you need to do this with a spray gun, spraying the solution into your mouth, while the child is in a pose lying on his side. Processing must be done every two hours. In addition to soda, you can use other solutions:
- potassium permanganate;
- hydrogen peroxide;
- "Furacilin."
Children who can rinse their mouth can perform the procedure on their own under the supervision of elders.
To make the treatment of bacterial stomatitis in children effective and not bring discomfort, it will not be out of place to use drugs to relieve pain. So, ulcers can be treated with:
- Solcoseryl pastes;
- gel "Kholisap";
- gel "Metrogil-Dent."
If the baby has a high temperature - more than 38 degrees, then it is recommended to take antipyretic drugs: Panadol or Nurofen.
Also, the doctor may prescribe an anti-allergic drug: Tavegil, Diazolin or Suprastin.
Alternative methods of treatment
There are many effective methods of treating bacterial stomatitis in children, including the use of medicinal herbs.
- To rinse your mouth with stomatitis, the alcohol tincture of calendula, which must be diluted with water 1:10, is well suited. The unique chemical composition of the plant has an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effect on the body. When preparing the treatment solution, you need to take 1 tsp. Calendula flowers and pour 250 ml of boiling water, rinse your mouth 3-4 times a day.
- St. John's wort tincture is known in medicine as the best astringent and enveloping agent. During the treatment of the disease, children use tincture on the flowers of St. John's wort with 40% alcohol in a ratio of 1: 5. It is enough to use 30 drops of tincture in a glass of warm water, and you can rinse.
- Another great mouthwash for stomatitis is tincture of sage leaves. The plant has a good anti-inflammatory effect and contains tannins. To prepare the infusion, you need 1 tablespoon. leaves and a glass of hot boiled water. Rinse with a solution should be a mouth several times a day.
- Oak bark has excellent medicinal properties; it helps with many diseases, including one of the types of treatment for bacterial stomatitis in children and adults. To prepare a decoction, you need to take 20 grams of the drug and 200 ml of hot water.
- Kalanchoe juice has excellent anti-inflammatory properties, helps cleanse ulcers from pus and dead cells, helps wounds heal faster. In the treatment of stomatitis, Kalanchoe juice is used in the form of applications - gauze swabs previously moistened in the juice of the medicinal plant are applied to the affected areas of the oral mucosa. At the pharmacy you can buy tincture of Kalanchoe juice, or you can squeeze the juice out of a torn leaflet yourself.
- Eucalyptus leaves contain a large number of antiseptics. That is why it is recommended to use it as a decoction for rinsing the mouth with stomatitis. To prepare a decoction, you need to take 10 g of dry leaves, pour 250 ml of water and boil. Cool, strain, and before use, the solution must be diluted in a ratio of 1:10. Leaves can be easily purchased at any pharmacy.
- Also, with stomatitis, you can use eucalyptus oil, which is diluted in water (10 drops per 250 ml).
- One of the beekeeping products - propolis - can also be used in the treatment of stomatitis in children. It contains many useful substances, thanks to which it has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and healing effects. The pharmacy sells alcohol tincture of propolis, which can be used for therapy and get rid of unpleasant symptoms. It is necessary to dilute 15 ml of alcohol tincture in half a glass of water. Rinse your mouth 3-4 times a day for 4-5 days.
When choosing folk remedies, it is worth consulting a doctor. Not all medicinal plants can be approved for use in the treatment of children, and the possibility of allergic reactions must also be taken into account.
Proper nutrition for stomatitis
When diagnosed with bacterial stomatitis in children, treatment involves a wide variety of methods. Therapy will be effective if, in addition to medicines and folk remedies, nutrition is still monitored.
Children often refuse to eat with stomatitis. Failure is evidence that pain occurs when food enters the mouth. But such a mood can lead to serious consequences for the whole organism, because nutrition is a key factor in a speedy recovery. What should parents do so that eating does not bring discomfort to the child? A few simple tips will help the baby eat right and get rid of the disease faster:
- Before use, it is better to grind all products to the consistency of mashed potatoes, vegetables and fruits - grate on a fine grater, and boiled - wipe through a sieve.
- Eat meat and fish in the form of minced meat or soufflé, pre-cooked.
- Familiar first courses should be replaced with cream soup or soup puree.
- The diet of a sick child should contain as many foods as possible enriched with vitamins B and C, because it is they that help strengthen the immune system. Vitamins A and E will help the healing of wounds and cracks in the oral cavity.
- Food should be at room temperature, because cold or hot can cause irritation of the mucosa and lead to pain.
- After eating, it is recommended to rinse your mouth with a decoction of herbs or warm water to remove all food debris that serves as irritants to the mucosa.
If parents strictly abide by these simple recommendations, then the baby’s recovery will accelerate, and the disease will not cause much discomfort.
Stomatitis Prevention
Everyone has long known that any disease is easier to prevent than to treat later. This is especially true for children, because they will not be able to follow all the doctor's recommendations exactly, which means that the treatment can be delayed and bring a lot of inconvenience to both the child and parents. Stomatitis prevention is a strict adherence to hygiene rules. Parents should ensure that the child does not lick dirty objects and hands.
Doctors noticed that breast-fed infants were less likely to have stomatitis. Parents should explain to their older children that their hands should be washed as often as possible, their teeth should be brushed daily and no foreign objects should be taken into their mouths.
Hardening, nutrition with a minimum sugar content and frequent walks in the fresh air is the key to strong immunity, which can easily deal with any ailments.