Stomatitis in young children is a fairly common phenomenon. Before starting treatment, you should understand the causes of the onset of the disease, and in the future, systematically carry out the necessary preventive measures to prevent relapse. How long does stomatitis in children last and what are its consequences for the child? It depends on the actions of the parents. Let's take a closer look.
Symptoms
If you notice that your child refuses to eat, is naughty a lot, complains of constant pain in his mouth, and when examined, fever, redness and sores on the mucous membrane of the oral cavity are revealed, know - this is stomatitis. In infants, it is quite difficult to determine it, since they still do not know how to talk. While older children can let you know about this disease at the very beginning of its manifestation.
How long stomatitis lasts in children depends on its type and treatment methods. With the right therapy, this ailment goes away quickly enough and ceases to cause discomfort to your child.
Stomatitis in young children: danger
It is necessary to treat the arisen disease. No matter how long stomatitis lasts in children, it can cause unpleasant consequences. Inflammation that appears in the mouth can spread to the lips and face, as well as into the body. A decrease in immunity as a result of the disease contributes to the attachment of a secondary infection. Against the background of all this, fever, convulsions can develop, damage to the nervous system and others can occur. And stomatitis in children can be the reason for this . Symptoms and treatment should be determined only by a qualified doctor, since in each patient the disease can proceed individually. Do not delay going to the clinic if you are concerned about the behavior and health of your child.
Fungal (candidal) stomatitis in children
Symptoms and treatment of each type of this disease vary. Most often, candidal stomatitis occurs in infants (from birth to 1.5-2 years). Its special features:
- body temperature, as a rule, does not increase.
- plaque on the oral mucosa from white to gray in the cheesy type; when removed, redness or even bleeding is observed.
- the child’s behavior deteriorates sharply: he becomes capricious, eats poorly, his sleep becomes restless, as he is tormented by painful sensations and dry mouth, and stomatitis in children is to blame.
How many days the illness lasts - depends on the degree of the disease and how to treat it. Local methods are aimed at creating an alkaline environment in the oral cavity, which helps to eliminate the fungus and prevents its further spread. To do this, rinse your mouth with a solution of soda at least 3-4 times a day. If stomatitis is treated in infants, with this solution, the mother carefully treats the oral cavity of the baby. For older children and adolescents, the doctor may prescribe special antifungal tablets or suspension, which should be taken strictly according to the instructions. Ointment for stomatitis in older children (oxolinic, nystatinic, Bonafton, Acyclovir, etc.) is used to treat the cheeks and gums - this is where a large number of fungal bacteria accumulate.
Herpetic stomatitis
This type of stomatitis is common not only in children but also in adults. Sooner or later, everyone goes through herpes infection, another question is how the body itself will respond to this virus. If the immune system is weakened, then herpetic stomatitis may develop. In children, the symptoms and treatment of this ailment practically coincide with those in adults:
- a distinctive feature is small sores in the oral cavity, which cause painful and unpleasant sensations.
- the child becomes moody, cries a lot, puts his hands in his mouth and refuses food and drink;
- if stomatitis in young children has become acute, it manifests itself with all the signs of acute respiratory viral infections: fever, lethargy, swollen lymph nodes, nausea, headaches and even chills.
In the acute course of the disease, the child must be placed in a hospital. It is difficult to say how long stomatitis lasts in children in severe cases, but it is important to be constantly under the supervision of doctors. If the form is not very severe, then treatment can be done at home, however, with tireless observation and monitoring of the process. The oral cavity is treated with decoctions of chamomile or sage, which have an anti-inflammatory effect. In order to reduce pain, children from 4 years old are prescribed antiseptics. And for wound healing, you can apply sea buckthorn oil or rosehip oil with a cotton swab.
Aphthous stomatitis
The most complex form, since it is very difficult to identify the cause of its occurrence. This can be an allergic reaction to one of the consumed products, or a malfunction of the gastrointestinal tract.
- At the very beginning, sores are similar to mucosal lesions as with herpetic stomatitis. However, after a certain period of time, they turn into aphthae - white ulcers with regular edges and a strong reddening of the rim.
- The temperature rises, pain during conversation and eating intensifies, the child does not sleep well and refuses to eat.
Treatment of aphthous stomatitis depends on the pathogen identified by the doctor. In no case should you self-medicate, as you can miss the situation out of control and bring additional infection into the body of the child.
How to distinguish between herpetic and aphthous stomatitis
- Herpetic stomatitis is characterized by the formation of a large number of vesicles in the oral cavity, which after some time turn into sores. With aphthous disease, ulcers are single in nature and differ in sufficiently large sizes - up to a centimeter in diameter.
- With stomatitis caused by the herpes virus, gums are usually affected, their redness and swelling occur. This is called gingivitis. With aphthous stomatitis, such symptoms are absent.
- Herpetic stomatitis is accompanied by rashes near the lips. Aphthous does not have such symptoms.
Stomatitis in children: Komarovsky recommends
The famous doctor E.O. Komarovsky has his own view on the ailment under consideration. How does viral stomatitis appear in children, how long does it take and whether it is necessary to treat it - the famous pediatrician gives detailed answers to all these questions. He classifies this disease into:
1. Recurrent aphthous stomatitis. It appears with a frequency of once or twice a year and is characterized by aphthae - ulcers in the oral cavity. Aphthae can appear on the tongue, palate, inner side of the cheeks. They are quite large in size and cause unpleasant pain. Even if the disease is not treated, it most often goes away on its own in two weeks.
2. Herpetic stomatitis is manifested by a sharp malaise, fever, headaches. This kind is very difficult for children to tolerate. It is characterized by a large number of small bubbles in the oral cavity.
3. Seizures appear in the corners of the mouth and most often indicate anemia. Therefore, at their first occurrence, Komarovsky advises leading the child to the clinic and checking the level of hemoglobin in the blood. At the same time, he focuses on the fact that it is impossible to raise its level only by eating iron-containing products. Be sure to use special medications.
And how long does stomatitis in children last? Alas, even the famous doctor cannot predict this. However, he knows for sure that in order to avoid unpleasant consequences, regular preventive measures are necessary.
What are the features of treatment in children under 3 years old?
Many drugs are prohibited for use by young children, and therefore the treatment of stomatitis becomes a little difficult. The child does not know how to rinse his mouth, so you need to treat the cavity with napkins or cotton pads soaked in decoctions of herbs. The resulting sores can be carefully treated with a cotton swab. Before starting treatment or prevention of an ailment in a small child, be sure to consult your doctor and carefully study the instructions for the prescribed drug.
Prevention
- Be sure to wash your hands often with soap. Explain to your children how important personal hygiene is. Do not let them eat outside, take dirty toys, or sit down at the table without washing their hands.
- A special place is occupied by oral hygiene. Be sure to brush your teeth with a good brush and using the right toothpaste. Teach your child to clean his tongue and rinse his mouth well.
- Be sure to wash all fruits and vegetables brought from the store or from the market. Most often it is dirty foods that cause stomatitis in both adults and children.
- If a patient with stomatitis appears in the family, be sure to give him a personal towel and separate dishes with cutlery, otherwise he risks infecting other family members.
- Take vitamins and immuno-modeling drugs. It is good immunity that will prevent the initiation of infection and prevent the virus from entering the body of a small child. For the same purpose, temper your children, take them out for long walks in the fresh air, and generally maintain a favorable atmosphere in the family.
Stomatitis is a fairly common disease in both adults and children. However, following basic hygiene rules, it can be avoided. Be healthy!