Stomatitis refers to lesions of the oral cavity (its mucous membrane), which often appear as spots or sores. Why can such a disease develop in a child, what is stomatitis and how should parents react to its appearance?
Symptoms and Signs
It is possible to identify stomatitis in a child by a characteristic clinical picture.
In infants (children under 1 year old)
- A whitish coating on the oral mucosa is typical of fungal stomatitis.
- On the reddened mucous membrane of the mouth, small bubbles are visible, which are located in groups - a sign of herpetic lesions.
- An increase in body temperature, weakness, an increase in lymph nodes, and other manifestations of intoxication are also characteristic of acute herpes stomatitis.
- The child cries and refuses to eat.
Children older than a year
At this age, the symptoms of stomatitis may include:
- Ulcerative painful lesions of the oral cavity (its mucous membrane) in the form of round whitish-gray aft.
- Bubble rash on the oral mucosa.
- Slight rise in temperature, slight weakness.
- Swollen lymph nodes and soreness.
- The appearance of gingivitis.
- Bad breath.
Causes
The disease can be caused by very different reasons - from viruses and "dirty hands" to severe immunodeficiency. Read about what the famous pediatrician E. Komarovsky thinks about stomatitis in another article.
In babies
The most common cause of stomatitis in infants is fungi. During the period when teeth appear, stomatitis may develop under the influence of bacterial flora, because the child pulls various objects into his mouth and injures the oral mucosa.
A baby over 6 months old may contract the herpes virus from the mother or other adults, resulting in severe stomatitis with blistering eruptions.
Children over a year old
The appearance of stomatitis in older children is facilitated by a violation of the rules of oral hygiene. The onset of stomatitis is associated with trauma to the mucous membrane, licking fingers, ingestion of allergens into the child's body, the use of toothpastes with sodium lauryl sulfate, untreated caries, mouth breathing, acidic food and other provoking factors. Also, often damage to the oral mucosa in a child is caused by viruses.
Types and forms
There are different types of stomatitis in children, some of which are more common (for example, aphthous and candidal), while others are less common.
Aphthous
The aphthous form of stomatitis is characterized by the appearance in the oral cavity of ulcers (apht) of a white-gray-yellow color. Such ulcers are most often solitary and very painful. This type of stomatitis is characterized by a recurrent course.
The disease can be either mild, when the ulcers have a diameter of several millimeters and heal in seven to ten days, or severe, in which large aphthae are formed, healing within one and a half months. This type of stomatitis is usually diagnosed in children over 3 years old.
Herpes
This type of lesion in the oral mucosa is caused by the herpes virus. Herpes stomatitis is most often detected in children 1-3 years old. The disease is manifested by the appearance of bubbles in the mouth, from which ulcers are formed. They are quite painful and heal in 1-2 weeks. This form of stomatitis is highly contagious and can be accompanied by fever, skin rashes, and swollen lymph nodes.
Candidal (oral thrush)
This type of stomatitis is caused by candida fungi. It is most often diagnosed in babies in the first year of life. In older children, such a lesion of the oral mucosa occurs after antibiotic therapy and in immunodeficiency states. Thrush in a child's mouth appears as painful, itchy, white-yellow patches. When they are removed, they reveal bleeding wounds.
Whitish patches may be normal for infants. How to distinguish a normal state from a disease, read the article about thrush in the mouth in newborns.
Hand-foot-mouth syndrome
This type of stomatitis is manifested not only by the appearance of painful whitish sores in the mouth and an increase in temperature, but also by the appearance of a rash on the feet and palms in the form of grayish bubbles that hurt. The same blisters can appear on the skin of the buttocks and in the genital area.
The disease is contagious and is most commonly diagnosed in children under 10 years of age. It is caused by enteroviruses, which are transmitted by particles of mucus, feces and saliva from a sick person. Infection is possible through shared dishes, towels, hand contact, and a pond.
The incubation period lasts about one week. The child becomes contagious a few days before the first manifestations of this syndrome and releases viruses up to 2 months after the onset of the disease.
The child's body temperature suddenly rises (it can reach 39-40 degrees), chills and weakness appear. Further in the oral cavity (on the lips, cheeks, tongue), ulcerative lesions appear, which have uneven edges and a whitish tint. They are very painful and cause great discomfort to the child. At the same time, parents may notice a rash on the feet and palms of the child, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, sore throat.
Typically, this disease lasts 7-10 days and ends with a complete recovery. In rare cases, complications affecting the heart and nervous system are possible. Re-ill with such a syndrome in very rare cases. Antiviral agents are not used in treatment, but only unpleasant symptoms are eliminated. In case of fever, the child is given an antipyretic agent, sores in the mouth are lubricated with an anesthetic gel. Bubbles on the skin of feet and hands do not need to be treated with anything.
It is important that the child drinks enough during this form of stomatitis. Avoid eating acidic foods as they can make your mouth pain worse. You can give your child cold milk or ice cream.
Read another article about stomatitis in a child's tongue.
Allergic and contact
These forms of stomatitis are caused by exposure to chemicals and allergens.
The fact that the cause of stomatitis can be allergies can be suggested by swelling of the tongue or lips. Also, the allergic nature of the lesion can be judged by all cases of stomatitis, if we analyze under what circumstances they began. You need to look for a connection with food, visiting the dentist, using hygiene products.
Most often, such stomatitis is caused by flavors, preservatives and flavoring components of toothpastes, metal dentures and fillings, sucking tablets and lozenges, throat and mouth sprays.
What kind of disease can it be?
Although rare, stomatitis can be one of the symptoms of such serious pathologies as oral cancer, HIV, leukemia, celiac disease, diabetes mellitus, Crohn's disease, Stevens-Jones syndrome, heavy metal intoxication, Kawasaki disease and other pathologies. To exclude these diseases, with stomatitis, it is important to show the child to the doctor.
When should you see a doctor?
A child with stomatitis must be examined by a doctor if:
- Simultaneously with the damage to the mouth, the child developed blisters on the trunk, legs or skin of the hands.
- The child's body temperature has risen and the state of health is worsened.
- The child also has inflammation of other mucous membranes, for example, the genitals and eyes.
- In addition to stomatitis, the child has headaches, a rash, itching, breathing problems and other adverse symptoms.
- The ulcer on the oral mucosa is very large - more than one centimeter in diameter.
- In the child's mouth, there are more than 7-10 lesions of the mucous membrane.
- Until the old ulcers are completely healed, new ones appear in the child.
- Stomatitis bothers the child very often, appearing every month.
- A sore in the mouth does not heal for more than three weeks.
Treatment of stomatitis in a child should be versatile. Learn about stomatitis prevention to reduce the likelihood of relapse.
What if relapses are frequent?
If stomatitis occurs in a child very often, you should:
- Visit the dentist and have all teeth healed.
- Pay attention to oral hygiene - brush your teeth at least twice a day, rinse your mouth after eating, take your time while brushing your teeth and use soft bristled brushes.
- Stop using antiseptics that are used to treat the oral cavity.
- Avoid the use of toothpastes with sodium lauryl sulfate.
- Limit food that can injure the mucous membrane or cause irritation on it, for example, citrus fruits, croutons, spicy foods, chips.
- Eliminate all foods that the child is allergic to.
- Take vitamin and mineral supplements regularly.
