Herpangina is a common viral infection in babies and young children. Its symptoms are similar to those of classical angina. Very contagious but benign, herpangina can be avoided with a few preventive measures.

Herpangina is an infection caused by a virus. Many strains of enteroviruses can cause herpangina: group A coxsackie virus, echovirus, enterovirus and poliovirus. It is a mild disease that most often affects children aged 1 to 5 years, but also babies. The sources of contamination are generally schools, nurseries and day nurseries or even holiday camps. Herpangina outbreaks appear more frequently in summer and fall.

Herpetic angina is manifested by:

• a sudden fever.
• headaches.
• sore throat.
• sometimes a rash on the throat and on the tongue, similar to canker sores. The appearance of grayish-colored papules with a red border occurs within 2 days of infection. These papules develop into shallow ulcers and disappear within 1 to 7 days.
• sometimes vomiting (especially in infants) or diarrhea.

loss of appetite.

• neck pain.

These symptoms resolve quickly and spontaneously. Complications are rare in herpangina, and a first infection usually protects against a new infection (provided it is the same infecting strain).

There is no cure for herpangina. Treatment is based on symptom relief, including meticulous cleaning of the mouth and teeth with a soft toothbrush and salt-water mouthwashes. Since swallowing is painful because of the papules, the sick child should eat soft foods and avoid acidic or too salty foods.

Highly contagious, herpangina can quickly spread among a group of people. The viruses that cause herpangina are transmitted in several ways:

• by touching a contaminated surface (by saliva from an infected person or droplets projected when an infected person sneezes or coughs) and then putting their hands to their mouths.
• by inhaling droplets projected into the air by the coughing, sneezing and spitting of an infected person.
• by ingesting food or water contaminated with the stool of an infected person.

To limit the risk of the virus spreading, wash your hands and those of your child very regularly and systematically in the following cases:

• after blowing your child’s nose.
• after changing the diaper.
• before preparing a meal.

The disease is difficult to prevent in babies because babies often put their dirty hands to their mouths. At home, try as much as possible to regularly clean the surfaces with which it comes in contact. 

If your child has herpangina, wait until he is healed before returning him to school, nursery or nanny to avoid infecting other children.