Herpangina - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Herpangina may be characterized by ulcers and lesions inside the mouth, sore throat, and fever. The child often has a high fever with the illness. Herpangina is most commonly seen in infants and young children who are in preschool and daycare centers. Herpes infection - the cold sore virus - by the fact that the ulcerations of the Coxsackie virus in the mouth generally occur in the back of the throat around the tonsils and rear portion of the palate. Often a child with herpangina will be able to drink without discomfort but can't eat solid foods because of pain (from salt or acid in the food, or just because the solid or partially-chewed food scrapes against the sores). Herpangina typically occurs during the summer and frequently in children, but also young adults. Various enteroviruses cause the condition. A person can have herpangina up to 5 times.

Herpangina is an acute viral infection which typically produces vesicular lesions on the mucous membranes of the soft palate, tonsillar pillars, and throat. Herpangina usually affects children under age 10 (except newborns because of maternal antibodies), and generally subsides in 4 to 7 days. It's slightly more common in late summer and fall, and can be sporadic, endemic, or epidemic. Diagnosis is based on symptoms and characteristic oral lesions. It is best confirmed by isolating the virus from the lesions or by demonstrating a rise in specific antibody titer, but such testing is not generally recommended. Recurrent aphthous ulcers may appear similar. Bednar's aphthous ulcers rarely occur in the pharynx but generally are not associated with systemic symptoms. Herpetic stomatitis occurs sporadically and produces larger, more persistent and more numerous ulcers throughout the oropharynx than herpangina. Coxsackievirus A10 causes lymphonodular pharyngitis, which is similar except that the papules become 2- to 3-mm whitish to yellowish nodules instead of vesicles and ulcers.

Symptoms of Herpangina

Some of the common sign and symptoms of the disease Herpangina are as follows:

• Loss of appetite.
• Headach.
• Pain in the mouth or throat.
• Drooling.
• Sore throat
• Fever.
• Pharyngitis.
• Abdominal pain.

Causes of Herpangina

There are various factors which give rise to the disease Herpangina, but here we mentioned some of the common causes:

• Coxsackie virus.
• Echovirus.

Treatment of Herpangina

Find effective treatment methods of treating Herpangina:

• Acetaminophen or ibuprofen by mouth for fever and discomfort as recommended.
• Topical anesthetic agents for the mouth. These may contain benzocaine or xylocaine. These are usually not required.
• Non-irritating diet. Cold milk products, including ice cream, are often the best choices during herpangina infection. Fruit juices are too acidic and tend to irritate the mouth sores.
• Increased fluid intake.
• The important issues are getting children plenty of fluids, relieving their pain, and treating their other symptoms as appropriate.
• In severe cases, prescription topical medications prepared by a pharmacist, or oral medications containing codeine may be useful
• Herpangina doesn't require isolation or hospitalization but does require careful hand washing and sanitary disposal of excretions.