Mama Ann says:
We are at our bad days again,
Ryo and I are both sick. He has
gingivostomatitis, that is his mouth is full of sores. He is feeling very terrible, he has gone without
solids for a week, depending solely on milk. Although he can still play, he refuses to drink water all day. Today I have resorted to forcing water down his throat for fear of dehydration.
And forcing medicine and water down his throat can amount to 8 to 10 times a day, that is pretty scary for a small child, and very stressful for a parent. Still it has to be done. His symptoms are quite similar to HFMD, he's just without sores on his hands nor feet. I hope it does not develop into HFMD.
Below is an excerpt from Babycenter.com:
What is gingivostomatitis?Gingivostomatitis is the long name for a condition that results in a very sore mouth. It's caused by a viral infection and is common in children. The symptoms can be mild or severe. While it can be disconcerting to see sores in your toddler's mouth — and to know that she hurts — usually there's no cause for worry.Most people carry around the viruses that can cause the condition. In fact, your toddler's bout of
gingivostomatitis may be her initial infection with the herpes simplex virus type 1 (
HSV-1), which most people pick up in early childhood and carry for the rest of their lives. The initial infection usually goes unnoticed, but if it does make itself known, it does so in the form of
gingivostomatitis. (
HSV-1 can cause
cold sores, too.)
Gingivostomatitis can also be caused by a
coxsackie virus, the culprit in
hand, foot and mouth disease and
herpangina.
What are the symptoms?The sores are small (about 1 to 5 millimeters in diameter), grayish or yellowish in the middle, and red around the edges. Their severity and location depend on which virus is causing the
gingivostomatitis.Your toddler may have sores on her gums (also called the
gingiva), on the inside of her cheeks, in the back of her mouth, or on her tonsils, tongue, or soft palate. Her gums may be inflamed and may bleed easily.Because the sores can be very painful, your toddler will probably be irritable, may drool more than usual, and won't feel like eating or drinking much. She may also have bad breath and a high
fever (up to 104 degrees), and the lymph nodes on the sides of her neck may be swollen and tender.Note: In rare cases,
gingivostomatitis that's caused by herpes can spread to the eye and infect the cornea. Herpes simplex
keratitis, as such an infection is called, can cause permanent eye damage. Take your toddler to the doctor right away if she has
gingivostomatitis and you notice that her eyes look watery and red or that she's sensitive to light — both early symptoms of herpes simplex
keratitis.
How is gingivostomatitis treated?Because this is a viral infection, antibiotics won't help. The sores in your toddler's mouth should be gone in a week or two. Here are a few things you can do to make her more comfortable and keep her otherwise healthy while she has it:
• Children's acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help relieve pain and lower
fever. (Never give aspirin to anyone under the age of 20. It can trigger a rare but dangerous illness called
Reye's syndrome.) If the pain is so severe that your toddler won't eat even with the help of these over-the-counter pain medications, your doctor may prescribe a stronger pain medicine.
• Though she may not want to drink because swallowing is painful, it's extremely important that your child get enough fluids. Try offering her cool,
nonacidic,
noncarbonated drinks such as water, milkshakes, or diluted apple juice. Dehydration can sneak up rapidly, especially in young children — this is the one complication to be aware of if your child has
gingivostomatitis. Call the doctor if your child goes for more than six hours without urinating or taking in liquid, or if she shows any
signs of dehydration.
• Try offering cool, soothing foods such frozen pops, ice cream, or frozen yogurt, or bland foods that don't require chewing, such as mashed potatoes, yogurt, or applesauce.
Can gingivostomatitis be prevented?Because so many adults and children carry the herpes virus, and because they can pass it (and the
coxsackie virus) on even if they have no symptoms, there's no practical way to prevent
gingivostomatitis. You can, however, try to keep your child from kissing, sharing food, or playing in close contact with people who have an active herpes infection or any other mouth sores. (That includes you, if you happen to have an outbreak.) And to protect others, your toddler should do likewise during the course of her illness.
If your toddler's sores are caused by the herpes virus, the virus will stay in her body for life. The good news is that the first episode of
gingivostomatitis is usually the worst, and it won't necessarily be a frequent plague.
