Learn About Herpetic Stomatitis

What is the definition of Herpetic Stomatitis?

Herpetic stomatitis is a viral infection of the mouth that causes sores and ulcers. These mouth ulcers are not the same as canker sores, which are not caused by a virus.

What are the alternative names for Herpetic Stomatitis?

Stomatitis - herpetic; Primary herpetic gingivostomatitis

What are the causes of Herpetic Stomatitis?

Herpetic stomatitis is an infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), or oral herpes. Young children commonly get it when they are first exposed to HSV. The first outbreak is usually the most severe. HSV can easily be spread from one child to another.

If you or another adult in the family has a cold sore, it could have spread to your child and caused herpetic stomatitis. More likely, you won't know how your child became infected.

What are the symptoms of Herpetic Stomatitis?

Symptoms may include:

  • Blisters in the mouth, often on the tongue, cheeks, roof of the mouth, gums, and on the border between the inside of the lip and the skin next to it
  • After blisters pop, they form ulcers in the mouth, often on the tongue or cheeks
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Drooling
  • Fever, often as high as 104°F (40°C), which may occur 1 to 2 days before blisters and ulcers appear
  • Irritability
  • Mouth pain
  • Swollen gums

Symptoms may be so uncomfortable that your child doesn't want to eat or drink.

Not sure about your diagnosis?
Check Your Symptoms
What are the current treatments for Herpetic Stomatitis?

Your child's provider may prescribe:

  • Acyclovir, a medicine your child takes that fights the virus causing the infection
  • Numbing medicine (viscous lidocaine), which you can apply to your child's mouth to ease severe pain

Use lidocaine with care, because it can numb all feeling in your child's mouth. This can make it hard for your child to swallow, and may lead to burns in the mouth or throat from eating hot foods, or cause choking.

There are several things you can do at home to help your child feel better:

  • Give your child cool, noncarbonated, nonacidic drinks, such as water, milk shakes, or diluted apple juice. Dehydration can occur quickly in children, so make sure your child is getting enough fluids.
  • Offer cool, bland, easy-to-swallow foods such as frozen pops, ice cream, mashed potatoes, gelatin, or applesauce.
  • Give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain. (Never give aspirin to a child under age 2. It can cause Reye syndrome, a rare, but serious illness.)
  • Bad breath and a coated tongue are common side effects. Gently brush your child's teeth every day.
  • Make sure your child gets plenty of sleep and rests as much as possible.
Who are the top Herpetic Stomatitis Local Doctors?
Internal Medicine
Internal Medicine

Salerno Medical Associates Llp

613 Park Ave, Fl 2, 
East Orange, NJ 
 (5.2 mi)
Languages Spoken:
English, German, Russian, Serbian, Spanish
Accepting New Patients
Offers Telehealth

Alexander Salerno is an Internal Medicine provider in East Orange, New Jersey. Dr. Salerno and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Herpetic Stomatitis. His top areas of expertise are Acute Kidney Failure, Retinopathy Arteriosclerotic, Iron Deficiency Anemia, Thrombectomy, and Gastrostomy. Dr. Salerno is currently accepting new patients.

Family Medicine
Family Medicine

Summit Medical Group PA

1 Diamond Hill Rd, 
Berkeley Heights, NJ 
 (8.9 mi)
Languages Spoken:
English
Offers Telehealth

Thomas Cioce is a Family Medicine provider in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey. Dr. Cioce and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Herpetic Stomatitis. His top areas of expertise are Herpetic Stomatitis, High Cholesterol, Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), and Gingivostomatitis.

 
 
 
 
Learn about our expert tiers
Learn More
Infectious Disease
Infectious Disease

Maimonides Faculty Practice Plan

4802 10th Ave, 
Brooklyn, NY 
 (19.3 mi)
Languages Spoken:
English

Barbara Alvarez is an Infectious Disease provider in Brooklyn, New York. Dr. Alvarez and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Herpetic Stomatitis. Her top areas of expertise are Herpetic Stomatitis, Long Haul COVID, Oral Herpes, and Infective Endocarditis.

What is the outlook (prognosis) for Herpetic Stomatitis?

Your child should recover completely within 10 days without treatment. Acyclovir may speed up your child's recovery.

Your child will carry the herpes virus for life. In most people, the virus stays inactive in their body. If the virus wakes up again, it most often causes a cold sore on the mouth. Sometimes, it can affect the inside of the mouth, but it won't be as severe as the first episode.

When should I contact a medical professional for Herpetic Stomatitis?

Contact your provider if your child develops a fever followed by a sore mouth, and your child stops eating and drinking. Your child can quickly become dehydrated.

If the herpes infection spreads to the eye, it is an emergency and can lead to blindness. Contact your provider right away.

How do I prevent Herpetic Stomatitis?

About 90% of the population carries HSV. There's little you can do to prevent your child from picking up the virus sometime during childhood.

Your child should avoid all close contact with people who have cold sores. So if you get a cold sore, explain why you can't kiss your child until the sore is gone. Your child should also avoid other children with herpetic stomatitis.

If your child has herpetic stomatitis, avoid spreading the virus to other children. While your child has symptoms:

  • Have your child wash their hands often.
  • Keep toys clean and don't share them with other children.
  • Don't allow children to share dishes, cups, or eating utensils.
  • Don't let your child kiss other children.
What are the latest Herpetic Stomatitis Clinical Trials?
Match to trials
Find the right clinical trials for you in under a minute
Get started
Who are the sources who wrote this article ?

Published Date: August 05, 2023
Published By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

What are the references for this article ?

Baumhardt H, Chapman M, D'Alesio A, Woods K. Oral disorders. In: Zitelli BJ, McIntire SC, Nowalk AJ, Garrison J, eds. Zitelli and Davis' Atlas of Pediatric Physical Diagnosis. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 21.

Dhar V. Common lesions of the oral soft tissues. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 341.

Mazzulli T. Laboratory diagnosis of infection due to viruses, chlamydia, and mycoplasma. In: Long SS, ed. Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 287.