Stomatitis

Information about stomatitis

What is stomatitis?

Stomatitis is an inflammation of the oral cavity that affects the lips, the tongue and the inside of the cheeks. It is a painful condition that causes ulcers and sores. Stomatitis is classified according to the types of germs that cause it and the mode of transmission. The most common stomatitis is caused by fungi. However, it can be caused by a herpes virus or may be an aphthous stomatitis that is not contagious.

Causes

Fungal stomatitis is caused by the fungus candida albicans and it is contagious. In addition, it can be caused by antibiotics and inhaled corticosteroids. For this reason, it is recommended to rinse the mouth after inhalation. Herpetic stomatitis is caused by the herpes simplex virus and is contagious. It can spread from one part of the body to another.

Adults with herpes should not come into contact with children (kiss, skin contact), because they can easily transmit it. Aphthous stomatitis is of unknown etiology and affects mostly children. It tends to appear when a child is anxious, suffering or when the body lacks essential vitamins like B12, folic acid and iron. This type of stomatitis is not contagious.

Symptoms

Fungal stomatitis manifests as white spots accompanied by a white coating on the tongue, palate or inside of the cheeks. This type of stomatitis is not painful. If the disease affects the child’s genitals, itching, redness and severe skin rashes are observed.

Herpetic stomatitis is indicated by painful blisters outside and inside the mouth. When they burst, they cause wounds in this area and a very high fever. Aphthous stomatitis causes small ulcers, vesicles, fever, an increase in the production of saliva and swelling of the glands. The child has difficulty in swallowing.

Diagnostic

The diagnosis of the disease is usually made by a dentist or a pediatrician and involves an evaluation and recognition of the clinical picture (white ulcers). If necessary, the patient is referred to a specialist stomatologist for further microscopic examination and culture. If the disease occurs frequently, the general health of the patient should be checked as well as the presence of fungi in another part of their body.

How is it treated?

The duration of the disease varies and may exceed two weeks. Usually, the herpetic disease self-heals. Aphthous stomatitis is not treated with medication, while fungal stomatitis is treated with medication depending on the microbe involved. A topical gel or a special mouthwash for children are administered to relieve pain.

Prevention

In herpetic stomatitis, it is important that the child does not transfer the virus from the mouth to the eyes. Breastfeeding women should clean their nipples thoroughly with warm water before breastfeeding, whereas the bottle should be carefully sterilized.

What specialty

The doctors to treat stomatitis are the Pediatrician and the Dentist

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