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What is herpetic stomatitis?
Herpetic stomatitis is a contagious infection of the oral mucosa caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). The medical term is gingivostomatitis herpetica; the rather unpleasant archaic and unprofessional term "mouth rot" stems from the condition's association with malodorous breath.
Despite herpetic stomatitis not being limited to a specific age group, it nevertheless impacts children aged between ten months and three years the most. And even though the infection tends to cause young patients considerable pain and discomfort, their parents can rest at ease knowing that herpetic stomatitis usually clears up after about a week. Fortunately, there are very rarely any complications.
Herpetic stomatitis is characterised by multiple or individual small blisters in the mouth, commonly referred to as cold sores. They can appear on the gums, tongue, lips and palate or in the throat. The blisters are filled with fluid and eventually burst. Subsequently, mucosal damage ensues with a whitish coating and red borders. The blisters and lesions typically result in discomfort while speaking and eating, thereby restricting the patient's quality of life.
How is herpetic stomatitis transmitted?
Unlike aphthae, the blisters that appear with herpetic stomatitis are highly contagious. Hence, the most prevalent cause of herpetic stomatitis is the transmission of the virus from one person to another through tiny droplets of saliva. The viruses contained therein are expelled through sneezing or coughing, for example. Droplet dispersal when speaking normally might also be sufficient to spread the disease from person to person.
Herpetic stomatitis is particularly widespread in nurseries, where it can also be easily transmitted to objects and surfaces, such as toys. This is referred to as a smear infection. In this case, the child's hands touch the mouth, pick up saliva and subsequently transfer it onto a toy. Herpetic stomatitis is highly contagious during acute stages when the blisters in the mouth burst. This is the moment when the highly infectious fluid is released and mixes with saliva. How long is herpetic stomatitis contagious for? As a general rule, the risk of contamination diminishes only once all the blisters have dried up.
