355 - Antiviral Treatment for Primary Herpetic Gingivostomatitis in Children

Introduction:

Herpetic gingivostomatitis is a manifestation of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and is characterized by high fever and painful oral lesions. Herpetic gingivostomatitis is most common in children aged 6 months to 5 years but can also occur in adults. HSV-1 is usually transmitted by direct contact or via droplets of oral secretions or lesions from an asymptomatic or symptomatic person. Once a patient is infected with the herpes simplex virus, the infection can recur in the form of herpes labialis (cold sores), with intermittent reactivation occurring throughout life.

This infection is often self-limiting but can limit the ability to drink/eat and sometimes requires hospitalization. It may be preceded by some prodromal symptoms such as fever, anorexia, irritability, malaise and headaches. After the primary infection has subsided, the virus remains latent in a nerve ganglion.



Case Report:



A 4-year-old patient came to the Pediatric Dentistry Department with a complaint of fever, oral pain, and “redness on his gums”. The medical history revealed dysphagia and asthenia in relation with the appearance of the lesions. Intraoral examination revealed acute marginal hemorrhagic gingivitis, painful erosions in the maxillary gingiva, ulcerations on the lateral edges of the tongue, and post vesicular erosions on the palate, intern lip and oral mucosa.

We had prescribed an antibiotic, analgesic, an anesthetic mouth gel, and an antiseptic mouthwash. The patient responded well to the treatment and showed a regression of symptoms and disappearance of the lesions after ten days.