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Stomatitis in children is manifested by ulcers in the oral cavity, a deterioration in general well-being. Because of the pain, the child may refuse food, becomes capricious. You should not delay treatment, you need to diagnose the disease as soon as possible. Therapy will depend on what kind of reason provoked the development of stomatitis. Your doctor will help you figure this out.
Stomatitis in children is one of the most common diseases in which the mucous membranes of the oral cavity suffer. Symptoms are caused by an infection that has penetrated the tissues, or an allergic reaction of the body.
There are many types of stomatitis. Therefore, the symptoms of the disease will vary. Common signs include ulceration of the mucous tissues in the mouth, the appearance of plaque on them, swelling, cracks and pain in the affected area.
Pediatric dentists face this disease every day. Moreover, cases of stomatitis are recorded even in newborn children. With improper treatment, stomatitis becomes chronic, while the child remains contagious and can transmit the infection to other people. In a negative way, stomatitis affects the state of the immune system.
Children more often than adults suffer from stomatitis. First of all, this is due to the low formation of their protective forces. It also affects the insufficient level of development of hygiene skills.
Types of disease
There are several types of stomatitis that can occur in children:
Candidal stomatitis. Most often, this type of disease is diagnosed in children from birth to 3 years.
Herpetic stomatitis. Children get sick at the age of 1-3 years.
Aphthous stomatitis. Most often it is diagnosed in children 7-15 years old.
Viral, bacterial or traumatic stomatitis can occur at any age.
Causes
Stomatitis can develop for many reasons. Depending on the type of disease, etiological factors can be very diverse. However, it is impossible to consider any type of stomatitis in isolation from the patient’s immune system. Immunity is of no small importance in terms of the occurrence of pathology. The weaker it is, the higher the likelihood of developing the disease. Moreover, both general and local immunity are important.
It is necessary to take into account the anatomical features of the structure of the mucous membrane of the oral cavity of the child. In children, it is tender and thin, which means that it is easy to injure it. In addition, microbes can easily overcome such a barrier. Therefore, stomatitis in childhood is not uncommon.
Candidal stomatitis
Candidiasis stomatitis develops due to the reproduction in the oral cavity of fungi of the genus Candida. Such a disease can be diagnosed in a person at any age, but most often it is children of the first year of life who are affected by it.
There are several reasons:
A child can become infected with the fungus from the mother at the time of birth or during breastfeeding.
In a negative way, the state of the mucous membranes is reflected in the intake of antibacterial drugs and some other medicines.
In children of the first year of life, the immune system is especially weak.
The fungus can enter the body through dirty hands or toys.
Infection can occur through contact with an infected person.
In infants, the mucous membranes of the oral cavity do not have the same perfect resistance mechanisms as in adults.
Herpetic stomatitis
Herpetic stomatitis develops due to infection with the herpes virus. Its distributor can be both adults and other children. Rashes can appear not only in the mouth, but also on the lips, as well as on the nose.
Once on the mucous membranes of the child, the herpes virus quickly takes root in them and begins to multiply. It is able to be transmitted not only by airborne droplets, but also by household means. Therefore, you can get infected even when using an ordinary pacifier.
Aphthous stomatitis
Aphthous stomatitis develops against the background of chronic diseases. Health problems such as tonsillitis, caries, hypovitaminosis, gastritis or stomach ulcers, disorders in the functioning of the immune system can provoke the formation of aphthae. Many scientists are of the opinion that aphthous stomatitis is a consequence of allergic reactions to food. The peak of exacerbation of pathology occurs in autumn and spring.
Viral stomatitis
Viral stomatitis develops due to the ingestion of viruses that have the ability to multiply in the mucous membranes of the oral cavity.
The causes of the disease may be the following:
Past infections: chickenpox, influenza, measles, etc.
Interaction with persons who are infected with viral stomatitis. It can be spread by airborne droplets and through household items.
Weak immunity of the child. It will be easy for viruses to enter the child’s body.
Bacterial stomatitis
Bacterial stomatitis most often develops in children who often suffer from acute respiratory viral infections, influenza, tonsillitis, bronchitis, etc. Any pathology undermines the child’s immunity, so it is not difficult for bacteria to penetrate the mucous membranes of the oral cavity and begin to multiply there. Contribute to infection the presence of scratches and injuries in the mouth. They can be mechanical in nature, or they can appear during teething.
Traumatic stomatitis
Mechanical damage to the mucous membranes of the oral cavity is one of the most common causes of stomatitis.
Injuries can be received in the following way:
during outdoor games.
When foreign objects enter the mouth.
When eating too hot drinks or foods.
By swallowing chemicals.
When biting the cheeks or lips.
When teething, if their edges are too sharp.
During the use of braces, if they have been installed incorrectly.
Allergic stomatitis
Allergic stomatitis is a consequence of an allergic reaction of the body to various substances. It can be house dust, plant pollen, animal hair, etc.
Symptoms of stomatitis in children
Symptoms of stomatitis in children are as follows:
Bubbles appear on the mucous membranes of the oral cavity and on the tongue, which will be filled with a clear liquid. After 2-3 days, they open up, inflamed areas remain in their place.
A rim of inflamed tissue is visible around the ulcer.
The pink mucous membrane of the oral cavity becomes red or dark purple.
Body temperature rises to high levels and can reach feverish values.
The child suffers from severe intoxication of the body.
Appetite is deteriorating, or absent altogether.
The child cannot sleep well.
The oral cavity hurts, the pain is especially intense at the site of the concentration of ulcerative defects.
The gums and tongue swell.
White patches may form on affected areas.
An unpleasant odor comes from the mouth.
Sometimes salivation increases, and sometimes, on the contrary, the oral cavity dries up.
As you know, stomatitis can have several varieties. Therefore, the above general symptoms do not always and not fully occur in a child. Depending on the specific form of stomatitis, the clinical picture may be as follows:
Candidal stomatitis does not lead to an increase in body temperature. Areas of inflammation appear in the mouth, which are lined with a white coating. In appearance, it resembles cottage cheese. It’s not hard to take it off. Under it, an inflamed mucous membrane is visible, which can bleed. Children point to pain, itching and burning in the mouth. Candidal plaques can appear on the gums, on the cheeks, on the lips and on the tongue.
Aphthous stomatitis characterized by the appearance of ulcers that have a round or oval shape. In diameter, they can reach 10 mm or even more. Aphthaes are covered with a gray-white coating, and a red rim is visible around them. Ulcers are very painful, but the general well-being of the child is not disturbed. Most often, one aphtha appears in the mouth, but with a severe course of the disease, there may be more. In 10-14 days, the ulcers disappear. If there is no treatment, then the disease becomes chronic.
Herpetic stomatitis. If during this disease the child’s body temperature rises, then maternal antibodies in his body have already ceased to circulate. The disease leads to general intoxication and deterioration of well-being. First, some parts of the oral cavity turn red, and then become covered with bubbles. There can be a lot of them (about 20 pieces). The more ulcers, the more intense the symptoms of stomatitis and the worse the child feels. After opening, the bubbles hurt a lot, eroded areas remain in their place. Sometimes a rash appears not only in the mouth, but also on the lips, as well as on the wings of the nose.
Diagnosis of stomatitis in children
The doctor makes a diagnosis after examining the child. Only a dentist can accurately determine which type of stomatitis develops in a patient. There are many inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity, which, with their symptoms, can resemble stomatitis (glossitis, periodontitis, gingivitis). Therefore, it is so important to contact a specialist when signs of infection appear.
If stomatitis has a chronic course, then the child may be referred for additional diagnostic measures, including:
Cytology research.
Virological analyses.
Bacterial study of the obtained materials.
Immunological studies, etc.
If stomatitis develops in a child younger than a year old, then first you need to show it to the pediatrician. If necessary, he will refer the baby to a specialist. Children over 3 years old can be taken to the dentist immediately.
To clarify the diagnosis, the following studies may be required:
Blood chemistry.
General analysis of urine and feces.
Mouth smear.
Cytological, virological and bacteriological examination.
Assessment of the state of the immune system.
How to treat stomatitis in children?
In order for the treatment to give the desired result, you need to know the cause of stomatitis. The choice of drug is determined by the form of the disease. Therapy should be complex, the patient is shown both local and systemic treatment. The dose of drugs and the frequency of their intake is determined by the doctor.
Tasks for the specialist:
Elimination of the cause of stomatitis.
Relief of inflammation.
Liquidation hurts.
Acceleration of healing of mucous membranes.
General rules that must be observed in the treatment of stomatitis in children:
Isolate the sick child from the children’s team. At home, he should eat from separate dishes, use his own towel, etc.
Oral hygiene must be of high quality. This will avoid the addition of a secondary infection. The baby’s mouth is treated with xylitol wipes, or with another antiseptic agent recommended by the doctor. Older children should rinse their mouths before and after meals with disinfectants.
In order not to injure the mucous membranes, you need to use a brush with soft bristles.
All nipples and bottles must be disinfected. The mother should keep the mammary glands clean.
To reduce pain, you need to use sprays with an anesthetic effect.
From the child’s menu, acidic foods that will irritate the mucous membranes of the oral cavity should be excluded. The same applies to spices, spicy dishes, conservation. Food should be warm, but not hot or cold. If the pain is intense, then food is offered to the child only in a frayed form.
The menu should contain foods rich in nutrients, minerals and vitamins. Carbohydrate foods, sweets and baked goods are banned.
To better disinfect the oral cavity, you need to rinse it regularly. The child should repeat this procedure every 3 hours. Rinse time – 1 minute. If the child has not yet learned to rinse his mouth, then you need to lay him on his side and rinse the oral cavity with a syringe or a syringe without a needle.
Sprays are used to irrigate the oral cavity, but it is recommended to use them after the child reaches one year of age. In babies, sprays can provoke laryngospasm and an asthma attack. Therefore, children under one year old should be applied to the ulcers with ointment, and pre-antiseptic treatment should be carried out using a gauze swab dipped in a suitable solution.
After the main manifestations of the disease are stopped, drugs with wound healing properties can be used. Vitamins are also prescribed during this period. Such treatment allows you to accelerate tissue regeneration, restore the affected areas and speed up metabolic processes in them.
[Video] Dr. Kamorovsky “Stomatitis in a child – how to recognize and how to treat?»