Herpes in the mouth of adults: photos on the gums and palate, treatment of the mucous membrane

In fact, there are several types of this virus, differing in symptoms and localization. If herpes gets into the oral cavity, then the gums, cheeks, throat, tonsils, tonsils, and tongue become covered with blisters and age does not matter here.

Both adults and children can become infected with herpes. After some time, the infection activity subsides and the wounds heal. However, this disease is of a recurrent nature and requires treatment and prevention of herpetic rash pathologies.

Causes

The culprit of the disease in most cases is the virus of types 1 and 2, although there are many cases when the herpes zoster virus, better known popularly as “shingles,” or herpes type 6, not fully studied by science, adds its “fly in the ointment”, about which, however, it is known for certain that it can be transmitted through saliva during kissing. We talked about treating shingles at home here.

As they say, if there was an object to attack, a virus would be found. As a rule, such “objects” are people with weakened immunity for one reason or another.

The activity of the virus is provoked by:

infectious diseases transmitted by humans;
severe hypothermia or overheating of the body;
seasonal colds, including influenza;
HIV;
oncological diseases and chemotherapy used for their treatment;
surgical intervention;
stress, nervous tension;
chronic lack of sleep;
excessive physical activity;
deficiency of vitamins in the body;
decreased immunity in a pregnant woman;
hormonal imbalances in women associated with menstruation.

Herpes infection is transmitted from person to person in different ways, this can be oral sex, an innocent kiss from the mother as a manifestation of her feelings towards the baby, airborne droplets, using someone else's toothbrush or towel.

The essence of the disease

It has been scientifically proven that almost every person on earth is infected with the herpes virus. But it can remain in the body for many years without showing it. Most often, the first encounter with a pathogen occurs in childhood.

In an adult, a virus that has already entered the cell genome is systematically activated. For this reason, its complete elimination is impossible.

Science knows more than 100 types of virus, but only 8 of them parasitize humans. Oral herpes is a consequence of the activity of the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1, Herpes Simplex), accompanied by a rash of grouped blisters with fluid and an inflamed base. In 10% of cases it causes complications associated with the spread of the virus to the joints, nervous system, and pelvic organs.

Sometimes oral herpes is caused by HSV type 2 (genital herpes, which is transmitted through sexual contact), type 4 - Epstein-Barr virus.

The virus is highly contagious. It is introduced into the body through the nose and oral mucosa (OR). Having overcome soft tissues, it spreads throughout the body through the circulatory system.

Possible routes of infection:

contact (use of the same household items);
airborne droplets (when talking, coughing, sneezing, kissing);
sexual (from an infected partner during oral-genital sex);
vertical (from mother to child);
inoculation (transfer of virus particles from the affected area to other areas).

According to statistics, 90% of the world's population are virus carriers. However, only 5% develop a disease in the mouth due to the creation of favorable conditions for the development of the virus.

Factors contributing to virus activation:

chronic diseases;
low level of body protection;
pregnancy;
alcohol abuse;
constant stress;
strong physical activity;
inadequate rest;
previous operations and injuries;
immunodeficiency state;
oncological pathologies.

Herpes on the oral mucosa, in addition to the factors described above, can be caused by various injuries to the lips, mucous membranes, excessive exposure to the sun, and irritation of soft tissues as a result of dental procedures.

Symptoms in adults and children

Herpes in the mouth begins with symptoms, which at first are very difficult to diagnose for adults and especially children, because they cannot always explain the changes in their condition.

Muscle aches and fever are characteristic signs of colds. However, soon they are accompanied by unpleasant sensations in the oral cavity - tingling, burning, itching.

Bubbles appear on the oral mucosa and its color changes. Sometimes there is swelling. Chewing and swallowing food becomes painful.

Particularly unpleasant symptoms characterize the most active phase of the disease. The bubbles finally form, increasing in size, and after 3-4 days they open.

Their surfaces become yellowish in color. And any touch to them and even facial movements during a conversation cause pain.

This stage of the disease is different in that the person begins to feel thirsty, this happens because the cavity inside the mouth becomes dry.

After some time, the ulcers become covered with crusts, which then fall off. This entire very unpleasant, painful period for a person lasts (numerous reviews on the Internet say this) for at least two weeks.

Fortunately, the disease does not leave scars or any other marks in the mouth.

Here are the places where viral herpes most often appears:

on the gums (in this case the person feels as if a tooth hurts);
on the cheek and on the lip from the inside;
on the throat and tonsils (symptoms can be confused with tonsillitis);
the upper palate is also susceptible to infection.

Necessary diagnostics

herpes in the mouth in adults photo
In order to answer the question of how to treat herpes in the mouth of an adult, the attending physician must make an accurate diagnosis. As a rule, diagnosis does not present any particular difficulties, however, the examination should always be carried out according to a certain algorithm:

careful collection of anamnesis, in particular, information about previous relapses of herpes infection, concomitant diseases and medications used;
upon visual examination of the oral cavity, the doctor notes characteristic changes in the mucous membrane in the form of hyperemia and the formation of bright red ulcers;
A clinical blood test reveals lymphocytosis (increased number of lymphocytes) and acceleration of ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate). In a biochemical study, the concentration of C-reactive protein and fibrinogen was increased, which indicates an inflammatory process in the body;
To confirm a herpes infection, the patient may undergo a polymerase chain reaction or enzyme immunoassay.

The interpretation of the results obtained should be carried out only by the attending physician. Otherwise, the patient may be given an incorrect diagnosis and ineffective treatment may be selected.

What does herpes look like in the mouth (photo)

How to distinguish it from stomatitis

There is usually no doubt about which doctor to contact. Of course, go to the dentist, because all the characteristic signs indicate that the cause of suffering is stomatitis.

However, even a specialist may not immediately determine the exact diagnosis, because herpes and stomatitis have many similar external manifestations.

And the difference is this:

with herpes, blisters appear first, and then ulcers; with stomatitis, ulcers appear immediately;
if stomatitis “occupies” several zones at once, then herpes has a more specific localization, usually in one area;
a herpetic rash is usually concentrated closer to the bone tissue (on the palate, near the teeth), stomatitis chooses softer places - on the inside of the lips, cheeks, in the corner of the mouth.

If it is not possible to quickly make an accurate diagnosis and the doctor remains in doubt, he can always prescribe the necessary tests that will resolve them.

We wrote about the treatment of herpes stomatitis in children here.

Forms and stages

The stages of development of the disease are divided into early, acute and final. Acute is the most unpleasant and painful for the patient.

In addition, during the formation and opening of vesicles, which is typical for this stage, the patient is especially contagious to others.

There are three forms of the disease: mild, moderate and severe..

The first, which is also called asymptomatic, is characterized by mild swelling in the absence of blisters, small wounds and sometimes an increase in body temperature (up to 37.5 degrees).

With a moderate form, all the symptoms of herpes are fully manifested. Treatment must be active so that the patient does not experience any complications.

In severe cases, the temperature can rise to 40 degrees, there are a lot of rashes - on the mucous membranes, on the lips. A characteristic symptom is inflammation of the cervical and submandibular lymph nodes.

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Prevention

It is practically impossible to protect yourself from infection with the herpes virus. It is important to prevent its activation. This is achieved by maintaining the proper level of immune defense. To help you achieve your goals:

balanced diet;
rejection of bad habits;
complete rest;
avoidance of stressful situations;
intimate ethics;
timely treatment of all diseases;
maintaining personal hygiene.

It is also important to give the body moderate physical activity, take a daily walk in the fresh air, avoiding direct sunlight. For recurrent herpes on the lips, it is recommended to use hygienic lipsticks and sunscreens.

Oral herpes is an unpleasant disease that can cause discomfort and pain. The acute stage impairs performance due to the manifestation of the general clinical picture. Timely diagnosis and proper treatment will help you get rid of symptoms in a short time and return to a full life.

Treatment of herpes on the roof of the mouth and oral mucosa

Like all similar diseases, herpes in the mouth is treated comprehensively, without neglecting any of the means and methods that help a person get rid of painful symptoms.

If the case is very severe, the person is recommended to go to bed. The patient must drink at least two liters of fluid per day and follow a diet.

Medicinal (drugs)

Prescribed medications include antiviral drugs, medications to relieve painful symptoms and to strengthen the immune system.

Ointments, sprays, suspensions help overcome discomfort, relieve the burning effect, and promote wound healing. If you smear the rash regularly, the disease becomes easier.

Diet

Can diet be medicine? In the case of herpes - certainly. Properly selected, it promotes rapid healing of the mucous membrane, since food does not irritate it.

In addition, the products maintain strength in a person, helping to overcome the disease. Here are the recommendations the doctor usually gives:

do not consume sour and salty foods - the main irritants of the mucous membrane;
limit yourself to sweets;
eat warm liquid dishes - soup, broth, milk porridge;
include in the menu products containing lysine and arginine that are aggressive to the virus - milk, butter, cottage cheese;
diversify the menu with boiled ground meat, vegetable purees, and soft-boiled eggs.

Traditional medicine

It is, of course, impossible to completely cure herpes at home using folk remedies: the insidious infection does not go away even under the influence of strong medications, but it is possible to alleviate the person’s condition.

Here are some effective means with which you can treat (sometimes they say cauterize) painful wounds:

aloe - plant juice is diluted in half with boiled water, used in the form of lotions (to avoid a strong feeling of bitterness, do this for a few seconds, no longer);
sea buckthorn oil - lotions are applied once every 3 hours, they promote tissue regeneration and disinfect the area around wounds;
raisins - cut dried berries are applied to wounds to heal them, and a new berry is required for each sore;
chamomile, wormwood and lemon balm - a healing decoction of these herbs (separately or as part of a collection) is used for lotions and mouth rinses.

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Vaccination

The purpose of any vaccination is to form a person’s immunity to certain microorganisms. For a long time it was believed that such measures were ineffective against herpes. Today, vaccinations are carried out for medical reasons.

They do this with the help of Vitagerpavak and a number of other drugs. The course consists of 5 injections, which are given once a week. After six months, the course is repeated if necessary.

The children's version of vaccination includes 8 cycles, each of them consists of 5 injections, between which there are 4 days of “rest”.

The procedures are treated with great caution: blood is first taken for analysis, the condition of the little patient’s liver and kidneys, and the tendency to allergic reactions to various types of irritants are studied.

How to treat illness in children

Having discovered manifestations of a herpes infection in a baby, parents are perplexed as to how this could happen with the strictest observance of hygiene standards.

In fact, infection could have occurred earlier, even during pregnancy, or more precisely, at its final stage, if the woman had genital herpes and the baby received the infection during childbirth. In the future, manifestations of the virus can be different, including in the form of ulcers in the mouth.

However, according to the famous pediatrician Evgeny Komarovsky, in a six-month-old baby, as well as in a baby under the age of three, cases of activation of herpes are extremely rare, since the small body is protected by antibodies to the virus transmitted by the mother at birth.

Komarovsky also believes that since it is impossible to cure the virus, and it is very easy to catch it (if, for example, the mother had a cold in the corner of her lips), efforts must be directed to strengthening the child’s immunity - to make sure that “mother’s immunity” is replaced by her own , very reliable .

If the disease does not bypass the child, he is treated with tablets (Acyclovir) for a course of 5 days. If necessary, antipyretic drugs (Cefekon suppositories) and painkillers (Ibufen syrup) are given.

Wounds are treated with Vinilin and Cholisal (for children over 1 year old), Miramistin (from the age of three).

Experts consider Oxolin to be a safe drug for children, but for very young children it is recommended to dilute it with cream or Vaseline to avoid side effects.

Drug treatment is sometimes complemented by folk remedies. For example, older children who already know how to rinse their mouths can do this with chamomile infusion.

Children are given more drinks than usual (fruit juices with a sour taste are not recommended), and food (necessarily fortified) - in paste or liquid form.

How to treat?

These are gels “Kamistad”, “Kalgel”, “Cholisal”. If the disease is advanced, and in addition to the oral cavity, blisters appear on the face or other parts of the body, oral medications are prescribed. At the first signs of herpes disease, it is recommended to take the following antiviral medications:

"Acyclovir";
"Zovirax";
"Megosin";
"Famvir";
"Diazolin";
"Valtrex".

To normalize protective functions, immunostimulants are prescribed:

"Imudon";
"Hystaglobulin."

Antibiotics are prescribed in the presence of a purulent infection.
If the jaw, palate or lips are covered with suppurating erosions in which pathogenic microorganisms actively multiply, treatment of oral herpes in adults is carried out with antibiotics:

"Ceftriaxone";
"Cephalexin";
"Amoxicillin";
"Biseptol".

To relieve swelling and get rid of severe itching and pain, it is recommended to take:

"Ibuprofen";
"Nimesulide";
"Acetaminophen".

Prevention: how to prevent the disease from occurring

Prevention of the disease includes a healthy lifestyle and strengthening the immune system. The main thing is that our internal enemy does not find any “loopholes” for himself.

In this regard, a special role is given to hygiene requirements:

you need to take care of the cleanliness of personal belongings;
remember the need for oral hygiene;
do not use other people's toothbrushes, do not drink from other people's cups;
Knowing that the infection can be around us, wash our hands after traveling on public transport or visiting crowded places.

Since there is a sexual way of spreading the infection, you should remember about safety in the intimate sphere of life.