How dangerous is herpes in the mouth? How to treat this ailment in a child? These questions concern each parent. To answer them, you should study the disease. To begin with, herpes or herpes infection is a disease that occurs as a result of a herpes simplex virus infection. It is transmitted most often vertically (transplacental way from mother to baby), sexually or transmissible (through blood). A contact transmission method is occasionally possible upon contact in the area of ​​damage to the skin.
The current opinion that the herpes virus is transmitted by airborne droplets in groups of children is fundamentally wrong. Pathology in a baby occurs from 1-2 years, when the mother’s immunoglobulins only begin to give way to their own, and this process lasts up to 4-5 years. Therefore, it is so necessary to start the correct treatment on time.
Features
This virus is intracellular, it is permanently embedded in the DNA of cells of nerve nodes, starting to multiply at a high speed. Remaining inactive, it does not cause disease. The transition to the active phase occurs due to weakened immunity.
Pathology is characterized by a specific rash in the form of grouped vesicles, against a background of reddened skin with a clear liquid content. Most of the women before pregnancy, who have had herpes at least once, pass immunoglobulins to the child that protect their body up to 1-2 years.
Causes
The causes that activate HSV are hypothermia, lack of sleep, malnutrition, weakened immunity (a decrease in the number of interferons and other factors of humoral immunity, due to their increased consumption or insufficient production) due to the following factors:
- Severe or acute infections. It can even be ARVI and almost all infectious diseases.
- Congenital or acquired immunodeficiency syndromes (as opportunistic infections in HIV).
- Autoimmune diseases.
- Secondary immunodeficiencies.
- Oncological diseases (leukemia, cancer, and others), radiation and chemotherapy.
- Cytostatics have a powerful immunosuppressive effect.
- Treatment with high doses of steroids.
- Asthma, atopic dermatitis.
- Diseases of the endocrine system, a feature of adrenal insufficiency.
Types
To understand how to treat herpes in the mouth of a child, it is necessary to find out its type. The family of such viruses is divided into subfamilies (alpha, beta, gamma), comprising about 90 strains of viruses, but only a few are dangerous to humans, regardless of age.
The herpes simplex virus (first type) is characterized by the appearance of a vesicular rash in combination with a general malaise.
The second type of virus is called genital because it appears in the genital area. A newborn is infected during childbirth.
Chickenpox, a type 3 virus (Varicella zoster), is transmitted by almost all people in childhood, as it spreads by airborne droplets and is highly contagious. As a result, lifelong immunity is developed, however, another strain of this virus contributes to the disease at any age.
The fourth type of Epstein virus is Barr, it causes an infectious mononucleosis disease, which occurs with damage to the lymph nodes.
Herpes virus type 5 is caused by a cytomegalovirus infection, the occurrence of which is asymptomatic, however, an acute illness in pregnant women is dangerous to the fetus or is fraught with congenital diseases of the nervous system or even malformations.
Type 6 virus is exanthema, akin to rubella, but still different in the nature of the rash.
Herpetic stomatitis
Now we turn to the immediate topic of study. To answer how to treat cold sores in a child’s mouth, one should understand its features. About them further.
Herpetic stomatitis occurs when a characteristic vesicular rash appears in the oral cavity. It affects the cheeks, gums (gingivitis), the tongue (glossitis) and the palate, passes to the palatine tonsils, arches, the back of the throat (pharyngitis). The reason for it becomes both the first and second type of virus.
The course of the disease:
- lung;
- moderate severity;
- heavy
- latent.
Phase:
Cyclicity: remissions, exacerbations.
Symptoms of the disease
Specific vesicles appear in the child's mouth, which quickly burst, redness around them. This is all unbearably baking, burning, itching, sore, accompanied by increased salivation.
The condition is usually moderate, sometimes severe. The thermometer shows febrile numbers, the temperature is 39-40 degrees, which lasts up to a week. Pain, sweating, moodiness and nervousness are characteristic. The child refuses food, which further aggravates the severity of his condition.
Complications
A high probability of joining a secondary infection, often streptococcal. Sometimes the process extends to the tonsils and causes herpetic or streptococcal tonsillitis. This disease can also be complicated by herpetic tracheitis, with the spread of the infection to the bronchi - bronchitis, and even herpetic pneumonia, that is, pneumonia. In some cases, a herpetic lesion of the organs of vision occurs: corneal erosion, episcleritis, chorioretinitis, uveitis. In severe cases of generalized forms or severe complications, DIC may develop, toxic hepatitis, and even infectious toxic shock. They require intensive care.
The younger the child, the more likely the occurrence of complications in the form of herpetic meningitis and encephalitis in the absence of treatment.
Herpetic pneumonia and encephalitis are deadly. If a herpetic lesion occurs against the background of primary or secondary immunodeficiency, the course of the disease is especially severe and the likelihood of complications increases, and a secondary infection also joins.
Age features
There are age-related features - neonatal or congenital herpes are isolated separately. It is transmitted from a mother with an acute course of herpes infection and occurs, as a rule, in a generalized form with herpetic stomatitis. Pathology requires the immediate onset of effective treatment, otherwise it is fraught with deadly complications.
In children under 3 years of age, the disease process can also be generalized, and necessarily proceeds with tonsillitis and rashes on the skin around the mouth, as well as a very high temperature that lasts 5-7 days. In children of preschool and school age, there is no tendency to generalization, the severity of the course, with the exception of severe immunodeficiency states.
Survey methods
Therapy is prescribed by a doctor. It implies the following:
- blood clinic with a detailed leukocyte formula;
- determination of the presence and quantity of herpes simplex virus in the blood, as well as its type;
- the level of immunoglobulins G and M;
- scraping from bursting bubbles and their virological examination.
Therapy
Not everyone knows how to treat cold sores in a child’s mouth and how to treat her (in a year and older). Therapy for this disease is pathogenetic, symptomatic and local. Applicable:
- Antiviral drugs. They are the basis of therapy, they are highly effective, but, unfortunately, they are not able to completely destroy the virus, since it is protected by the cell itself, on which it "parasitizes". But drugs greatly reduce the activity of the virus biochemically. For example, Acyclovir, Gerpevir. Drugs are administered orally or intravenously, drip. The dosage of Acyclovir is 45-60 mg / kg per day, divided into 2 administrations. Antiherpetic drugs are used locally, in the form of ointments, but they are more effective on the skin than on the mucous membranes.
- Immunoglobulin preparations, for example, Pentaglobin or Intraglobin. They are used for generalized infections or in severe cases.
- Preparations, as well as inducers of endogenous interferon. The latter is simply necessary, its deficiency in the body is compensated for: nasal drops, sprays, tablets, suppositories.
- Antipyretic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Used at elevated temperatures and for relief of pain. They also inhibit prostaglandins, cyclooxygenase and other inflammatory mediators, removing it.
- Antihistamines, for example, Fenistil, Fenkarol. They can reduce itching and reduce the activity of the inflammatory reaction.
- Ascorbic acid and tocopherol. Perform a restorative function in the treatment of herpes. Injectable vitamins can be used, as well as multivitamins in suspensions, dragees after 6 years. Vitamins A, E, D also have a strong effect.
- Local treatment. A large number of ointments containing antiherpetic agents are used. They are also for conjunctiva. Vitamin E can also be used topically to restore the integrity of damaged skin and mucous membranes.
- Hepatoprotectors. With prolonged treatment with antiherpetic drugs, there is a need for the protection of liver cells. Therefore, the control of a doctor is important.
Some ask how to treat herpes in the mouth of a child at 1 year old and how to treat it. There are age-related features of the application of infection therapy methods. In newborns and young children under 3 years of age, the dosage form of suppositories predominates. Immunomodulating drugs, such as Viferon or Laferobion, are fundamentally necessary because immunity at this age does not yet function independently.
Up to 2-3 years, the child has maternal immunoglobulins, and after this age, and in their absence, the introduction of immunoglobulins can be used.
Adjunctive therapy
Not knowing how to treat herpes in the mouth of a child and how to treat it at 2 years old, it is worth remembering that in order to avoid febrile seizures in children under 3 years of age, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used in the treatment complex. For example, Ibuprofen, Paracetamol in suppositories. In severe, complicated and generalized forms, drugs are administered intravenously.
Many do not know how to treat herpes in children in the mouth and around. Perform infusion therapy according to treatment protocols and instructions. Duration 7-21 days. With long-term use of “Acyclovir”, hepatoprotectors must be added to the treatment regimen, since it causes toxic damage to the liver.
Neonatal herpes, or herpes complicated by a bacterial infection, is treated with antibiotics. In combination with them, probiotics and even antifungal agents are also used.
Many people ask how to treat herpes in the mouth of a child and how to treat it at 5 years old. The main thing to understand is that for any suspicions, manifestations, always consulting a doctor. At 3-6 years, the disease is easier, but painful sensations of burning, itching and pain are more pronounced, because myelination of nerve endings develops and sensitivity increases. These sensations can disrupt the baby's sleep. Therefore, it is simply necessary to use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and antihistamines that effectively relieve these painful sensations. Local treatment from 3 years and later may include drugs containing lysozyme, for example, “Lizobakt”.
6-15 years old
Many ask how to treat herpes in the mouth of a 9-year-old child. In children aged 6 to 15, there is an intensive growth and development of all systems and organs, skills and abilities. Therefore, drugs in the form of tablets are used.
At this age, it is necessary to use immunomodulators, which are also in tablets, for example, Cycloferon and vitamins.