Herpes Stomatitis

Synonyms

Stomatitis aphthosa; Gingivostomatitis

Definition and Characteristics

An infectious disease caused by primary infection with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) which occurs mainly in children less than 3 years of age. It is characterized by multiple painful vesicular lesions surrounded by erythema around the mouth, on the lips, gingiva, and anterior parts of the tongue and palate. The affected mucosa is usually swollen and ulcerated. The child is febrile and sick with significant discomfort, and it has difficulties to swallow fluids and eat. New superficial lesions evolve over 3–5 days and resolve over a further 6–7 days without scarring. Later in life, some individuals will suffer from periodic endogenous virus reactivation triggered by febrile illnesses, immunosuppression, menstruation in females, and intense exposure to sunlight, typically presenting as vesicles on the lips (herpes labialis = “cold sores” or “fever blisters”) or elsewhere in the face or on the skin at any...