A man is surrounded by viruses. The forces of the immune system are successfully struggling with some, while others are not always successful. One type of infectious disease is viral stomatitis. In children, it is manifested by poor appetite, excessive moodiness, and insomnia. How to properly treat this pathology, you will learn from our article.
Features of the disease in children
Viral stomatitis is an infectious pathology in which damage to the soft tissues of the oral cavity is observed. It should be considered as a peculiar reaction of the body to a weakened immunity. Almost any virus - influenza, chickenpox, or even measles can provoke the appearance of symptoms of the disorder.
In approximately 80% of cases, the disease occurs against a background of herpes infection. Her favorite place for localization is her lips. In specialized directories, you can find another name for this ailment - viral herpetic stomatitis. In children under 3 years of age with this diagnosis, the corners of the mouth are first affected, and then the entire mucous membrane. With good immunity, stomatitis passes very quickly.
Main reasons
In a healthy child who follows the rules of hygiene, the probability of infection is negligible. Therefore, one of the factors that increase the risk of developing stomatitis in children is oral problems. These include gingivitis, periodontal disease, advanced caries, and so on.
Of course, this is not all the causes of childhood viral stomatitis.
- Poor nutrition can contribute to the development of the disease.
- Some doctors associate the disease with vitamin deficiency, a deficiency of minerals.
- Weakened immunity also increases the likelihood of complications.
Viral stomatitis is still dangerous because domestic animals can act as a source of infection. If there is a dog in the house, do not allow young children to come into close contact with her.
Is the disease contagious?
In kindergartens, children periodically get sick. When a child with stomatitis appears, the nannies usually begin to convince their parents that there is no need to be afraid of the disease. Is this really so?
In fact, viral stomatitis is contagious. Therefore, pediatricians recommend reducing the number of visits to the garden, if even one child is sick. Better to sit at home at this time. To prevent infection, you can give the child "Tantum Verde." Instructions for use for children, which is in the package with the medicine, describes in detail the dosage regimen.
The main transmission routes
Since the development of the disease is a viral infection, stomatitis can be transmitted in appropriate ways:
- airborne;
- contact household (with handshakes, kisses, hugs);
- through the blood.
Viruses, as you know, can live on any surface. Therefore, getting stomatitis is very easy. Kindergarten, school, hospital, shop - all these places are considered unsafe.
The first manifestations of the disease
Viral stomatitis is considered a very insidious disease, as it can be easily confused with the flu or the common cold. Some at the initial stage mistakenly perceive it as a sore throat, because one of the symptoms is severe sore throat. As the pathological process develops, the temperature rises, the appetite disappears.
It is especially difficult to timely detect viral stomatitis in children. If an adult can accurately determine and say that he has pain, then with kids the situation is much more complicated. When the gums are involved in the pathological process, the child may simply complain of toothache. If excessive salivation is added to these symptoms, parents begin to sound the alarm.
About the third day after the activation of the virus, the following symptoms may appear:
- Bubbles They are localized on the cheeks and sky. Inside each bubble, a clear secret can be seen. After a few days, the formations begin to burst and open, and after they crust over.
- Sores. Rashes are usually covered with a gray film or plaque. The skin around them swells slightly.
- Erosion. Such damage to the oral cavity is accompanied by severe itching and burning, as a result of which the child becomes moody, constantly crying.
Many parents, completely ignoring the appeal to the pediatrician, begin treatment of viral stomatitis in children at home. This is strictly prohibited. Self-treatment (without a doctor’s prescription) can result in unpleasant consequences.
Incubation period
Each virus, penetrating the human body, does not immediately make itself felt. It has a so-called incubation period. This is a limited period of time, beginning directly with infection and ending with the onset of the first symptoms of the disease. Accurately determine the duration of the incubation period is almost impossible. The type of virus at the stage of infection is unknown. Only as the disease progresses will it be possible to determine its affiliation.
Numerous clinical studies have established that the period of activation of the virus varies from several days (measles, herpes) to 2-3 weeks. With the timely detection of the disease, one can hope for a quick recovery. It is important that treatment for viral stomatitis in children be started as early as possible.
The basic principles of therapy
If ulcers and blisters appear in the oral cavity in a child, you should show it to the dentist. He will be able to confirm the diagnosis, and if necessary, refer to specialized specialists. Treatment of viral stomatitis involves an integrated approach.
With severe damage to the oral cavity, treatment with antiseptics and painkillers is required. A good preparation for solving two problems simultaneously is Tantum Verde. Instructions for use for children recommends its use for treatment from 3 years. Consultation with the pediatrician is previously required. The course of therapy necessarily includes applications with wound healing agents.
It is also necessary in parallel to engage in strengthening the patient's immune system. Usually, immunomodulators, vitamin complexes and echinacea-based drugs are prescribed for these purposes.
A slightly different approach requires herpetic viral stomatitis in children. How to treat this pathology? In this case, the main efforts should be aimed at combating rashes. To do this, use antiviral gels and creams ("Zovirax", "Acyclovir").
Once again, it should be noted that the doctor should prescribe therapy. Self-treatment is unacceptable. It can lead to very unpleasant consequences. For example, parents often with this infectious disease begin to give the child antibiotics, which should not be done. Antibacterial drugs are not able to overcome viral stomatitis in children.
Home treatment
In addition to drug therapy, doctors often recommend various folk remedies against the disease. For example, for rinsing, you can use special decoctions based on chamomile or calendula. They have a wound healing and anti-inflammatory effect.
For the treatment of ulcers, it is also permissible to use alternative methods. An excellent remedy in this matter is aloe juice or Kalanchoe. You just need to moisten a cotton swab in the liquid and treat erosion in the mouth.
General treatment recommendations
Pediatricians strongly advise parents to heed the following recommendations:
- Viral stomatitis in children is considered an infectious disease. Therefore, as soon as the child is sick, he should be isolated. He should eat from a separate dish. If there are several children in the family, parents should ensure that no one touches his toys.
- During therapy, special attention should be paid to child oral hygiene. After each meal, the baby needs to be trained to rinse his mouth. For the procedure, both ordinary water and therapeutic decoctions are suitable.
- After the final recovery, the baby needs to buy a new toothbrush.
- If a newborn is sick, then before each lactation a woman is advised to thoroughly wash her breasts.
- It is necessary to pay attention to the patient’s diet. It is better to give preference to light food.
Preventive measures
Viral stomatitis in children, the symptoms of which are described in detail above, is well treatable. The mucous membrane of the mouth is quickly restored. To avoid re-infection, immediately after recovery, you need to throw out the brushes and nipples on which the infection could remain.
Viral stomatitis in children is often the cause of a weakened immune system. Therefore, it is important to follow simple rules of prevention:
- It is necessary to monitor the condition of the child’s teeth, at least once a year to show it to the dentist.
- It is necessary to periodically carry out measures to strengthen the immune system (hardening, vitamins), because the infection primarily affects weakened babies.
- Parents should constantly monitor the diet of the child.
Compliance with such simple rules avoids infection with viral stomatitis.