What is childhood stomatitis?
Childhood stomatitis refers to inflammations that occur in the mouth. This is a complication that can affect people of all ages, however it is most common during childhood.
Childhood stomatitis occurs in children, being more recurrent in the first years of life, between two and five years of age. This inflammation manifests in the mouth and can affect the gums, tongue, roof of the mouth, lips or even the throat, creating mouth ulcers or sores. In some cases, it can even cause a high fever. Stomatitis is divided into several categories, with aphthous stomatitis referring to mouth ulcers in a child's mouth. This type of stomatitis can be classified into three groups:
Minor aphthous stomatitis: this is the most common type and is characterised by the appearance of small mouth ulcers, which tend to disappear completely in less than fifteen days.
Major aphthous stomatitis: these ulcers can reach up to one centimetre in size and can take months to disappear completely from the child's mouth. They are less common.
Herpetiform stomatitis: refers to very small ulcers that appear as an outbreak in large numbers, potentially reaching up to a hundred ulcers in the mouth at one time. This is also a less common type of stomatitis.
Is childhood stomatitis contagious?
There are several types of stomatitis, meaning that in some cases, contagion can occur, such as in viral stomatitis, which is easily transmissible through direct contact with the inflamed area, or through contact with saliva droplets passed, for example, via a kiss. Incubation of the inflammation usually takes between two to twelve days to manifest.
In the case of childhood aphthous stomatitis, there is no contagion. This inflammation is not transmissible.
What are the symptoms of childhood stomatitis?
We list some symptoms of childhood stomatitis to watch for:
Yellow or grey lesions in the mouth, with red borders;
Pain in localized areas of the mouth;
Pain when swallowing;
Swelling of the tonsils;
Reduced appetite;
Wounds on the lips;
Bad breath;
Wounds in localized areas of the mouth;
Sensation of general malaise and fever.
These symptoms may appear in full or only in part. To ensure it is indeed childhood stomatitis, we recommend taking the child to a doctor for an appropriate diagnosis.
What causes childhood stomatitis?
There are several causes of childhood stomatitis. However, the main cause is infection by the herpes virus, type 1 (HSV-1), which is transmitted through skin contact between the child and an infected person.
Another common cause of childhood stomatitis is the Coxsackie virus. This virus is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact with other people, through objects, or even food that is contaminated with germs from the infected person.
Both of these viruses are passed on when the immune system is low, beginning to affect the child.
Aphthous stomatitis in children can also have other causes, such as:
Family history of inflammation;
Injuries in the mouth;
Poor oral hygiene;
Changes in diet;
Celiac disease.
How to treat childhood aphthous stomatitis?
To treat childhood aphthous stomatitis, it is best to consult a doctor for proper treatment guidance for the child. It is highly likely that some medications will be recommended depending on the state of inflammation, which may include paracetamol or other medications for childhood stomatitis - with anti-inflammatory effects - to assist in the child's recovery.
The goal is to alleviate symptoms such as pain and discomfort, as well as to aid in the healing of the ulcers.
How to manage childhood stomatitis?
To manage childhood stomatitis, there are some precautions that must be taken into account to ensure a full and fast recovery for the child. We highlight three important precautions below:
Use a soft toothbrush to clean the child's teeth without causing injury;
Use gauze to disinfect the lesions in the child's mouth whenever necessary;
Hygienize the child's toys to prevent virus transmission through saliva droplets that can easily transfer to objects, whether through the mouth or unwashed hands.
By following these recommendations and consulting a specialist, you can rest assured that your child's treatment will proceed smoothly and yield positive results. You can always schedule an appointment with the MALO CLINIC if your child shows symptoms of discomfort, so that we can assist you in the best possible way.
