Mouth rot in children develops in most cases after an infection with the herpes simplex virus type 1. Fever and painful, fluid-filled blisters in the mouth are considered clear symptoms of mouth rot. Mouth rot often affects children between the ages of 10 months and three yearsOnly in very rare cases are adults affected. Children are often infected through contact and droplet infection. In adults An infection with the herpes simplex virus type 1 is more likely to manifest itself through cold soresWe explain the causes, symptoms and treatment options for mouth rot in today's blog post.
The causes of mouth rot in children
Responsible for Mouth rot is the virus herpes simplex type 1Like all herpes viruses, they remain in the body for life. If your immune system is weakened or you suffer from a chronic metabolic disease, the pathogens can spread in smaller or larger activated again and again at regular intervals While in childhood the herpes simplex type 1 virus manifests itself as mouth sores, in adulthood it is more likely to manifest itself as cold sores or herpes that occurs on other parts of the body.
With the virus herpes simplex type 1 you can through contact or droplet infection. Fine droplets released when coughing or sneezing are infected with the virus. The virus released into the ambient air penetrates mucous membrane cells through breathing. Here it nests and continues to multiply uncontrollably. In general, Herpes viruses are incredibly infectiousIf the small blisters in the mouth or on the lips (in the case of cold sores) burst, the viruses are also released through them. For infection via For smear infection, a very small, fleeting contact is sufficient.
Have you ever dealt with the herpes simplex virus type 1 plugged in, you wear it your whole life in you. After recovering from an infection, stress and illness can cause the virus to be reactivated again and again. You can find out whether you have been infected with HSV 1 by taking a complex antibody blood test It is generally assumed that more than 80 percent of the population is infected with herpes simplex type 1, but show no symptoms.
The symptoms of mouth rot in children
Mouth rot is one of the classic “childhood diseases”, with toddlers estimated to suffer more than 90 percent of all children show no symptoms after an initial infectionIf the infection is more severe, the following symptoms may indicate mouth rot in children:
- High fever that comes on suddenly
- feeling of illness and fatigue
- Mouth has many small, fluid-filled blisters that cause a burning pain
- Blisters can also be inflamed or filled with pus
- Causes strong bad breath
- Swollen gums
- bleeding gums
- Excessive salivation
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Nausea and vomiting (in rare cases)
- Pain when drinking, eating and swallowing, even refusal of food
- Spread of the blisters to the nose, ears or lips (contact infection)
How long does mouth rot last in children?
The Incubation period of herpes simplex virus type 1 in children can be between 2 to 12 days In some cases it is significantly longer and in other cases it is significantly shorter. Depending on the age and health status of the affected children, infection even completely asymptomatic However, if symptoms do appear, they primarily manifest as painful blisters throughout the mouth and even the throat, accompanied by fever.
The Duration of mouth rot in children varies. Usually we speak of one week to 10 daysDue to the infectiousness of the herpes virus, a sick note is issued in most cases.
How does mouth rot occur in children?
If your child is healthy, you don't have to worry much about the consequences of mouth rot. Usually completely heals mouth rot and is considered unproblematic. The greater threat is that affected children refuse to eat. Here the risk of dehydration, which in severe cases can result in hospitalization. In very, very, very rare cases, the herpes simplex virus type 1 can attack the lungs or brain and cause inflammation at that site. In this case, people who only come into contact with the virus in adulthood are often affected.
After When the inflammation subsides, herpes simplex viruses “migrate” into the nerve nodes of the trigeminal nerve and stagnate there in a kind of “slumber”They remain there until stress, illness or a weakened immune system "activate" them againIf the viruses are active again, this often manifests itself in adults as a cold sore infection.
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