Content
Herpetic stomatitis generates wounds that burn and cause discomfort, with red edges and a whitish or yellowish center, which are usually on the outside of the lips, but which can also be on the gums, tongue, throat and inside the cheek, taking on average 7 to 10 days until complete healing.
This type of stomatitis is caused by the herpes simplex virus, also called HSV-1 and rarely caused by the HSV-2 type, which can cause symptoms such as inflammation, pain and swelling in the mouth, which usually appear after the first contact with the virus.
Because it is a virus that after the first contact settles in the cells of the face, herpetic stomatitis has no cure, and can return whenever the immunity suffers, as in the case of stress or poor diet, but it can be avoided through healthy eating, physical exercise and relaxation techniques.
Main symptoms
The main symptom of herpetic stomatitis is the wound, which can be anywhere in the mouth, however, before the wound appears the person may experience the following symptoms:
- Redness of the gums;
- Pain in the mouth;
- Bleeding gums;
- Bad breath;
- General malaise;
- Irritability;
- Swelling and tenderness in the mouth inside and out;
- Fever.
In addition, in cases where the wound is larger, difficulties in speaking, eating and loss of appetite due to pain caused by the injury may also arise.
When this problem occurs in babies it can cause malaise, irritability, bad breath and fever, in addition to the difficulty to breastfeed and sleep. See how treatment should be in cases of herpetic stomatitis in the baby.
Even though it is a common problem, it is necessary to see a general practitioner to confirm if it really is herpes and start the appropriate treatment.
How the treatment is done
The treatment for herpetic stomatitis lasts between 10 to 14 days and is done with antiviral drugs in tablets or ointments, such as acyclovir or penciclovir, in cases of severe pain, analgesics such as paracetamol and ibuprofen can be used.
To complete the treatment of herpetic stomatitis, propolis extract can also be used on the wound, as it will bring relief from pain and burning. See 6 more natural tips on how to treat herpetic stomatitis.
To avoid the discomfort of the symptoms, it is also recommended that a more liquid or pasty diet be made, based on creams, soups, porridges and purees and that acidic foods such as orange and lemon are avoided.
Nutritionist Tatiana Zanin, gives tips on how food can speed up the herpes recovery process, in addition to preventing it from recurring: