Acute Periodontal Conditions- Acute herpetic stomatitis

Question 1

what is acute herpetic stomatitis?

Answer 1

it is a contagious viral infection of the mouth from blisters, ulcers and inflammation caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1.

Question 2

what is the aetiology (cause) of acute herpetic stomatitis?

Answer 2

Herpes simplex virus
Transmission by close contact with infected saliva or lesions
often from adults with a cold sore transmitting to a child
those living closely together or perhaps those in nurseries

Question 3

what is the clinical picture of acute herpetic stomatitis?

Answer 3

Earliest recognisable lesion is vesicle
Hard palate or dorsum of tongue commonly affected
Ulcers may or may not be regular
May coalesce to form larger, irregular ulcers
Greyish/yellowish base
Erythematous border
Shallow
Extremely painful
May interfere with eating and drinking
Swallowing may be difficult
Sometimes gingivae remain red and painful without evidence of ulceration
Vesicles are circular or dome shaped, 2-3mm in diameter

Question 4

how long does acute herpetic stomatitis take to heal?
and what would be prescribed for this?

Answer 4

Oral lesions heal within 1-2 weeks
Patient may also become very ill:-
Pyrexia, photophobia, cervical lymphadenitis, coated tongue, marked halitosis
Acylovir – tablets or elixir (anti-viral medication)
plenty of fluids
sleep and rest
soft tooth brush

Question 5

what would you avoid if you have acute herpetic stomatitis?

Answer 5

avoid acidic foods

Question 6

what are common triggers for herpes labiallis (cold sores)

Answer 6

sunlight
hormones
stress
rundown
emotional upsets

Question 7

what may acute herpetic stomatitis be misdiagnosed with?

Answer 7

Necrotsing gingivitis as - ulcers of AHS may affect tips of papillae and can therefore be mistaken for NG
teething- infant who develops acutely sore mouth during eruption
Presence of vesicles and other symptoms readily distinguishes between the two infections