Bumps and cruises are normal for children. They can injure
their faces as well as the inner areas of their mouths while playing. Those
bumps and bruises are not of big concern unless they are serious. However, if
those bumps appear without any reason, it may be due to herpangina.
What is this condition?
Herpangina is basically a viral infection which commonly
appears in the children between ages 1 and 4 years. This condition can be
attributed to the appearance of small blister-like lesions in the mouth and/or
throat. According to National Institutes of Health, this condition may be due
to ECHO virus. This condition usually peaks during summer and fall. Although
children are mostly seen affected by this condition, it can also occur in
adults. The condition can be highly uncomfortable for your child but it usually
goes away within a week.
Herpangina symptoms
The major symptoms of this condition include fever,
headache, loss of appetite, and sore throat due to which swallowing becomes very
difficult. The sores seem like filled with white or grey-white fluid with red
borders. Areas in which these sores may occur include back of the throat, roof
of the mouth, and other areas of oral cavity. It can cause high fever. The best
way to deal with this condition is to stay hydrated and take palliative
remedies.
Dealing with the discomfort
While this condition doesn’t stay there for more than a week,
you need to treat the symptoms in order to help your child remain comfortable.
The treatment required for it can be mild or your healthcare physician may
suggest you not to go for any treatment. However, you can surely discuss about
relieving the symptoms. A few options worth mentioning in this regard are:
- Use of ibuprofen or acetaminophen in order to relieve the fever
- Increasing the intake of cold fluids
- Having a non-irritating diet
- Gargling with Peroxyl or cool water
You may not find it very easy to encourage your kid about
maintaining their oral hygiene during this condition but you need to make sure
that tooth brushing and flossing are not being overlooked. You also need to
bring a mouthwash to keep the germs away from the mouth. Nevertheless, you need
to discuss about rinsing with your dentist before you go for this option.
Herpangina is contagious. Therefore, you need to make sure
that you have taken every precautionary measure to keep your child away from
the sources of virus that causes this condition.
