Stomatitis in children is a fairly common disease, defined as a heterogeneous group of diseases of various etiologies. At an early age, a child’s stomatitis can be caused both by infectious causes related to the imperfection of the immune system, and inflammatory processes provoked by injuries of the oral mucosa due to the desire to taste the surrounding objects “to taste”, to examine them with the lips and tongue. Stomatitis in children most often develops acutely, unlike adults, with concomitant intoxication of the body. Treatment of stomatitis in children depends primarily on the cause, the factor that caused the disease, and takes into account the characteristics of childhood.
Childhood stomatitis has a certain periodization depending on the infectious agent and the cause of the disease. Of course, in any age period, all types of stomatitis may occur, but there are also regularities.
Fungal or candidal stomatitis develops in babies up to three years old, this is the so-called oral thrush. At the age from one to three years, herpetic stomatitis is noted with a high frequency with a decrease in specific immunity and infection, as well as the formation of Bernard aft in the sky.
The cause of aphthous stomatitis is injury to the mucous membrane of the palate during an unsatisfied sucking reflex, when the pacifiers are replaced with a finger, and can also develop due to prolonged contact with the nipple or pacifier of coarse rubber with a metal spoon. The injured mucous area is colonized by pathogenic microflora, contributing to the development of a long-term specific inflammatory process.
At school age, Bernard’s aphthous stomatitis often affects the inner side of the lower lip and can be triggered by allergic reactions, injuries when there is a pen, pencil, fingers in the mouth, decreased immunity, specific reactions to toothpaste or coarse food. Allergic types of stomatitis are also characteristic for this age period.
There are also mechanical (resulting from injury) stomatitis, not accompanied by bacterial inflammation, chemical type of stomatitis, resulting from burns of the mucous membrane under the aggressive influence of liquids (alkalis, acids, etc.) and physical stomatitis, which develops due to excessively hot, cold, spicy foods or drinks.
The increased incidence of mucosal stomatitis in children is due to several factors:
All these causes lead to the development of inflammatory processes in the oral mucosa, and even stomatitis of mixed etiology, such as bacterial and fungal infections, can occur. Stomatitis in children can be acute or chronic, relapse, manifest in a mild inflammatory process, or affect the entire oral cavity, causing severe intoxication of the body. When stomatitis is detected in children, treatment is based on determining the cause of inflammation and the clinical picture of the disease.
Stomatitis in children caused by the fungus of the genus candida, otherwise called candidiasis of the mouth or thrush. It can develop during infection in the process of the infant passing through the birth canal of the mother, or it can occur as a result of the fungus infecting the mother’s nipples during breastfeeding and non-observance of hygiene rules. It is observed in premature babies, as well as after courses of antibiotic therapy, causing a decrease in specific immunity.
The symptoms and characteristic signs of fungal etiology stomatitis include:
If diagnosed with uncomplicated candidal stomatitis in children, local treatment is prescribed. Systemic antifungal drugs (prescribing Diflucan, Clotrimazole, Fluconazole) are indicated for older children or for severe, prolonged forms of candidiasis that cannot be treated by local therapy.
The treatment is based on the change in the acid-base balance of the oral cavity and the treatment with anti-fungal and antiseptic preparations. Candida fungus prefers high acidity, and increasing the performance of alkaline environment in most cases successfully helps the body to cope with the infection at the initial stage.
The methods of local therapy include:
In a healthy child with a good immunity and the absence of concomitant factors for the development of candidiasis, treatment is limited to local remedies, most often enough treatment of the oral cavity with a solution of baking soda. In the presence of a fungal infection in a baby while breastfeeding, therapeutic or prophylactic anti-fungal treatment of the breast areola of the mother is necessary, otherwise reinfection of the child is possible when candidiasis spreads to the nipple area (or primary presence).
In addition to prescribing stomatitis drugs in children, supportive therapy is also recommended, aimed at increasing the body’s resistance: vitamins are prescribed, medicines can be used to increase local immunity (Imudon for resorption, etc.).
Treatment of oral candidiasis also includes a specific antifungal and anti-traumatic diet: eliminating rough, spicy, salty, hot and cold foods to reduce inflammation and injury to the oral mucosa, as well as sour foods (vegetables, fruits, berries, dishes), sweets and high carbohydrate foods and drinks, as they create a favorable environment for the growth of the fungus.
Herpes sores in the presence of the human herpes virus in the body and a decrease in the overall immunity. The period of the greatest frequency of this disease – from 1 to 3 years – is due to the weakening of the immunity received from the mother. When meeting for the first time with a herpes infection, the children’s body can react with acute stomatitis, accompanied by high fever and signs of severe intoxication of the body.
Herpetic stomatitis must be differentiated during diagnosis from other manifestations of viral diseases characteristic of childhood and accompanied by damage to the oral mucosa ( measles , scarlet fever, chickenpox).
Herpetic stomatitis has a fairly vivid clinical picture with the following manifestations:
Herpetic stomatitis, occurring in a mild form, is accompanied by a small number of rashes (up to 6-7), no signs of inflammation in the lymph nodes, hyperthermia in low-grade indicators (up to 38 ° C), with the use of antipyretic agents the body temperature drops.
Despite the fairly familiar herpes virus, severe herpetic stomatitis may require hospitalization due to high intoxication of the body and the risk of systemic spread of herpes in the body. Mild and moderate forms of the disease, the symptoms of which are described above, do not require placement in a hospital. For therapy prescribed symptomatic, antiviral treatment and related activities:
In the course of therapy, a sparing diet limiting spicy, acidic foods, coarse foods, hot and cold dishes is necessary.
During the course of the disease, as a preventive measure for infecting the rest of the family members, the child must have his own dishes and hygiene products.
Lack of treatment, even mild forms and failure to comply with the prescription of the doctor is dangerous recurrence of the disease, both in the form of stomatitis, and in other forms, for example, herpes conjunctivitis.
Aphthous stomatitis is typical for children a year and older. According to studies, aphthous stomatitis in children and adults occurs with a frequency of up to 4 cases per 10 people. The exact etiology of the disease is unknown, but there are many factors contributing to the formation of aphthous oral ulcers.
Ulcerative defects can be single and multiple, located on all parts of the oral mucosa. The so-called “geographical tongue” also refers to the aphthous type of stomatitis of allergic etiology.
What can cause the development of aphthous stomatitis? Allocate the role of injuries of the oral mucosa, food allergies and gluten, the role of hereditary susceptibility to aphthous ulcers, vitamin deficiencies, mineral deficiencies, factors of somatic diseases, in particular, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and circulatory system, general immunodeficiency states.
This form of stomatitis requires the identification of the cause of the disease and appropriate therapy. As a general direction of treatment, only local treatment with anti-inflammatory and antiseptic preparations can be distinguished, and the selection of the drug depends on the response of the patient. Perhaps the appointment of such solutions for the treatment of oral cavity, as Iodinol, Miramistin, Lugol solution, Hexoral, Rotocan, Shostakovsky balm, etc.
However, in addition to symptomatic treatment, it is necessary to identify the nature of the disease. Consultation often requires a dentist, allergist, gastroenterologist. Medicines are prescribed in accordance with the etiology, symptoms and stages of the disease and may include groups of antihistamine preparations for relieving allergy symptoms, remedies for treating diseases of the stomach, intestines, immunotherapy and vitamin therapy, oral hygiene at the dentist and hygienist, etc.
Physical procedures can also be included in the treatment methods, it is possible to prescribe electro- and phonophoresis, laser therapy depending on the stage of the disease and the age of the child.
Prevention measures include the following:
Scientists have proven that bone repair is slower in smokers, including former smokers.
Recent study promises vast perspectives on improving human immunity against infections.
“These neurons are like pins on your Google map that mark where events occurred,” scientists…
The extensive use of popular herbal supplement can lead to fever or even hospitalization, scientists…
Training at the gym and working as a loader proved to be far from the…
It is now clear how aging and poor sleep contribute to various diseases through cerebrospinal…