Symptoms of stomatitis in children

Reddened swollen gums, mouth ulcers, which are also accompanied by fever and bad breath - these are the symptoms of stomatitis in children. Stomatitis is a common disease in children of different ages, but there is nothing fatal about it, of course, if the parents paid attention to their child's condition in time and sought qualified medical help.

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Symptoms of stomatitis in infants and preschoolers

Symptoms of stomatitis in infants and preschoolers may manifest themselves in different ways. This depends on the type of stomatitis and individual development. However, there are general signs of the disease:

• Bad dream.
• Restless behavior or, conversely, lethargy and capriciousness.
• Elevated temperature.
• Refusal to eat or drink.

In addition to the general symptoms, herpetic stomatitis is characterized by:

• Runny nose and cough.
• Aphthae (sores) on the tongue, inner surface of the lips and cheeks. They are round or oval in shape, light yellow in color and framed by an inflamed bright red border.

For aphthous stomatitis:

• Children develop ulcers (similar to those seen with herpes).
• Bleeding gums.
• Bad breath.

Viral stomatitis occurs as a concomitant disease of other infectious diseases: chickenpox, flu, measles, etc. In this case:

• The mouth opens with difficulty.
• The lips become covered with a thick yellow crust and stick together.

Children may suffer from stomatitis only once in their life, but it is possible that the disease will return several times a year, and in some cases - per month. That is why it is necessary to take seriously the first signs of stomatitis in children and immediately contact a pediatric dentist.

Symptoms of Stomatitis in Newborns

Stomatitis is very common in newborns. To be precise, it is candidiasis or thrush caused by fungal infections. The disease occurs against the background of weakened immunity, which is why children under one year old, whose body is still weakly fighting bacteria and pathogens, are most susceptible to it.

Symptoms of stomatitis in children under one year old are quite difficult to recognize, because the main indicator of any disease in such babies is crying. But it is still possible to suspect the disease if the child:

• He became lethargic and sleepy, and was capricious.
• Poor weight gain.
• Sleeps poorly.
• Refuses to eat.
• His temperature rose.

In addition to these signs, a spotty white coating with jagged edges appears on the mucous membrane inside the oral cavity. It is easily removed, but the mucous membrane underneath is inflamed and red.

Prevention of stomatitis in children

At the first signs of stomatitis in children, parents should consult a doctor, because only he can provide qualified assistance and prescribe further treatment. Remember that neglected stomatitis in a child entails serious consequences and gives a red light to other, more terrible diseases.

To avoid or prevent recurrent stomatitis, first of all, you should carefully monitor oral hygiene in children:

• Avoid putting dirty toys and household items in the mouth.
• Make sure that the child does not put dirty fingers in his mouth.
• Older children should brush their teeth daily.
• Make sure that the child does not touch the mucous membrane with hot food and does not injure the oral cavity.

If you are a mother of a newborn baby, do not forget to treat your breasts before and after feeding your child. Parents of older children should remember that the little family member must have his own dishes, because some forms of stomatitis are contagious and can be transmitted from an adult.

Also, do not forget that stomatitis in children is the first sign of such a deeper problem as weak immunity. Therefore, do not neglect general strengthening measures: hardening, taking vitamins and frequent walks with the child in the fresh air.

As a preventative measure, children can rinse their mouths with decoctions of oak bark, chamomile, calendula, St. John's wort or sage (infuse one tablespoon of dry medicinal herbs in a glass of boiling water).

Symptoms of stomatitis in children are the first warning sign of possible serious illnesses, so pay close attention to your child’s health and be healthy!