Treatment of stomatitis in a 2-year-old child: causes, symptoms, recommendations

Causes of childhood stomatitis

There are 6 main factors that can provoke the occurrence of stomatitis in the mouth in infants:

• infections;
• mechanical damage;
• physical agents;
• chemical burns;
• allergic reactions;
• poor oral hygiene.

All conditions that cause immunodeficiency in a child predispose to the occurrence of such a pathology: chronic diseases of internal organs, vitamin deficiencies, the presence of foci of chronic infection in the body, stress, climate change. Dr. Komarovsky notes an increase in the incidence of stomatitis in children who often suffer from ARVI.

Infectious forms of the disease are the most widespread. Most often, herpetic stomatitis occurs. Also, lesions of the mucous membranes of the oral cavity can appear against the background of various infections: smallpox, measles, rubella, entero- and adenoviruses. Banal staphylococci and streptococci, which normally live in small quantities in the mouth of every baby, also play a huge role in the development of the inflammatory process. Their effect increases only when the child’s immunological status decreases.

Quite often, after taking antibiotics (especially if the course of treatment is long), infants develop a fungal infection of the oral mucosa - candidiasis or thrush, which can also trigger the development of stomatitis.

Children, especially young children, learn about the world around them through taste. Therefore, babies constantly put into their mouths all the objects that are at their disposal. Thus, mechanical trauma to the mucous membranes simply cannot be avoided. And take into account the fact that objects are not always clean, inflammation forms very quickly. A child can independently injure the mucous membrane by biting it with his teeth. This is observed very often in dreams with neuroses.

When teething, gums are sometimes injured, which, coupled with the baby’s reduced immunity during this period, leads to a strong inflammatory response.

Of the physical agents, the most common cause of stomatitis is exposure to hot food. In this case, microburns occur on the mucous membranes, at the site of which inflammatory foci are formed.

Chemical burns occur due to accidental exposure of the oral mucosa to potent substances. In everyday life, this could be vinegar, high-concentration hydrogen peroxide, alcohol or eau de toilette, perfume, various paint solvents or liquid cleaning products.

Anything can act as an allergic component in the development of stomatitis. For example, harmless candy, toothpaste, chewing gum, various drinks, medications and food. Often, allergic stomatitis occurs in infants during the period of introducing the first complementary foods.

Rinse treatment

Stomatitis on the tonsil can be eliminated quickly enough if you rinse regularly. For this purpose, solutions are selected that have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, regenerating and analgesic effects. If you choose the right product, improvements will be noticeable within 1-3 days.

Decoctions of plants, herbs and rhizomes. Chamomile, plantain, sage or a collection of several types of plants will help cope with the problem.

The decoction is prepared simply: pour a tablespoon of dry herb with a glass of boiling water. It is necessary to gargle after each meal, but at least 4-6 times a day. Hydrogen peroxide has an antimicrobial, healing and decongestant effect. It will do its job perfectly for candidiasis, aphthous and herpetic stomatitis localized on the tonsils.

It is important to be careful not to swallow the solution while rinsing. Furacilin is an antimicrobial agent. The medicine is available in tablets, from which you need to prepare a solution. For 100 ml of warm water you will need one tablet.

Wait for it to completely dissolve, then rinse the tonsils 3-4 times a day. “Rotokan” is a solution that has a hemostatic and anti-inflammatory effect. The medication is effective in the treatment of autozous stomatitis. Rinse with a solution diluted in water for 5-7 days.

After rinsing, refrain from eating or drinking for 30-60 minutes.

Symptoms and signs

How to recognize stomatitis in children? Despite the abundance of causes that cause this disease, all forms of stomatitis have common clinical symptoms:

1. The first signs of such a pathology are slight redness on the mucous membranes, which can be localized both on the gums and on the palate, on the tongue or on the lip.
2. Gradually, the redness gives way to swelling, round or oval ulcers appear, covered with a whitish or gray coating on top and surrounded by a red cushion. These ulcers are very painful and prevent the child from leading a normal life, eating or sleeping.
3. As the inflammatory process becomes more severe, small ulcers merge into one large one.
4. Local signs of stomatitis are accompanied by general symptoms: the child’s temperature rises, weakness, and lack of appetite appear.

One of the features of the course of the disease is the appearance of vomiting with stomatitis. It is caused by increased work of the salivary glands and increased excitability of the baby’s nervous system due to severe pain.

Stomatitis on the tonsils in a child: what to do?

Often this disease appears in children. What drugs do doctors recommend using in these cases?

"Vitaon" is an oil product based on plant components.

It has a softening, anti-inflammatory, healing effect. “Viniline” is a thick solution that forms a film on the treated surface. Protects ulcers from irritation by food and drinks. "Cholisal" is an anesthetic and antiseptic gel that retains its effect for 6-8 hours. "Lizobakt" is an antiseptic and antimicrobial agent, available for use in children over three years of age and pregnant women. Oxolinic ointment - used to provide an antiviral effect. The drug also prevents further spread of infection along the mucous surface.

If your baby has stomatitis on the tonsils (you have already seen the photo), then you should definitely reconsider the child’s diet. Food should be soft, without salt and spices. Eliminate fruits and raw vegetables, and offer your baby more to drink.

Types of childhood stomatitis and their main manifestations

The classification of childhood stomatitis is based both on the cause of the disease and on some distinctive features in the clinical course of such pathology. We will tell you how to determine this or that type of disease in our article later.

Catarrhal stomatitis

It is the mildest and most common form of the disease. In this case, multiple inflammatory foci appear on the mucous membrane of the gums, cheeks or lips, covered with a whitish coating, but without the formation of aphthae or ulcers. In this case, the child will complain of pain in the mouth when eating, drinking or talking, increased salivation, bad breath, and general weakness.

With catarrhal stomatitis, the mucous membrane is very susceptible to injury and bleeding, even during normal activities: brushing teeth, eating. When inflammatory foci are localized only on the gums, the clinical picture of stomatitis will resemble gingivitis.

Ulcerative stomatitis

The ulcerative form is a consequence of untreated catarrhal stomatitis. In this case, against the background of edematous foci of redness, multiple ulcerations are formed, which gradually increase in size, spread deep into the tissue of the mucous membranes or merge with each other.

The child complains of severe pain in the oral cavity, which intensifies when trying to brush his teeth or eat, and the smell of his breath becomes putrid. General health worsens: body temperature rises, weakness and body aches occur.

Young children are capricious, refuse to eat, and have trouble sleeping.

Gangrenous stomatitis

The gangrenous form of the disease is a continuation of catarrhal and ulcerative forms. A characteristic sign of this pathology is the spread of the inflammatory process deep into the tissues of the jaw with the development of extensive necrosis, which can involve the bones and spread to other anatomical areas.

The condition of a child with gangrenous stomatitis is extremely serious. There may be disturbances of consciousness, severe weakness, and the smell of rotting meat from the mouth. Regional lymph nodes are enlarged and painful on palpation.

Candidiasis (fungal or milk) stomatitis

Candidal stomatitis is characterized by specific symptoms. At the onset of the disease, children have dry mouth. Subsequently, a burning sensation and an unpleasant aftertaste appear. A white coating in the form of small dots is deposited on the mucous membrane. As the process progresses, the points merge into a large lesion that resembles a curdled mass. Such plaque is difficult to remove, exposing the inflamed surface of the mucous membrane.

Fungal stomatitis often occurs without fever, and the general condition is little affected.

Infectious stomatitis

The phenomenon of stomatitis can also be observed in some infectious diseases. With scarlet fever, the typical picture on the mucous membranes of the mouth will be supplemented by specific manifestations of the disease: a pinpoint rash on the skin and a “crimson tongue” - the surface of the tongue is bright red, shiny with hypertrophied papillae.

With diphtheria, damage to the gums will be combined with the detection of dense grayish films on the tonsils or in the throat. In this case, a paroxysmal cough with episodes of suffocation will be noted.

Allergic stomatitis

The allergic form of stomatitis most often affects children over 4 years of age. It is characterized by a clear connection with the action of the allergen, a rapid increase in symptoms and their rapid extinction with adequate treatment. The clinical picture in this case is similar to the ulcerative version of the disease - ulcers or aphthae form on the mucous membranes, covered with a whitish coating and surrounded by a focus of redness. Quite often, this pathology occurs in the form of chronic stomatitis with periodic episodes of exacerbation.

Traumatic stomatitis

In cases of mechanical trauma, a significant focus of infiltration appears on the mucous membrane, which ulcerates as the inflammation progresses. When burned by hot drinks, a bubble often appears, after opening which a fairly deep ulcer is exposed. A distinctive feature of the traumatic form of the disease is a clear connection with trauma or thermal burn of the oral mucosa and the formation of a single lesion.

In case of severe inflammation, local symptoms may be accompanied by general symptoms: fever, malaise, headache.

Herpetic stomatitis

In herpetic stomatitis, the main morphological element is small blisters located against the background of a hyperemic mucous membrane. They quickly open and erosions form, which are covered with fibrous plaque. The lesions can be localized separately or merge into a single affected area.

Erosion is extremely painful, the child refuses to eat, is capricious, sleep is disturbed, and in severe cases there is a significant increase in body temperature. In this case, typical herpetic lesions can be found not only in the oral cavity, but also on the face or other parts of the body.

Bacterial (purulent) stomatitis

Most often, bacterial stomatitis appears due to constant improper oral care or microbial sore throat. The clinical picture is typical for stomatitis: initially foci of inflammation appear, which then transform into deep ulcers covered with abundant purulent plaque.

At the same time, purulent deposits on the tonsils are detected, the child’s general well-being suffers, body temperature often rises significantly, and the cervical, submandibular and clavicular groups of lymph nodes enlarge.

Vesicular stomatitis

Vesicular stomatitis is an infectious disease. Its causative agent is vesiculovirus, a virus transmitted from sick animals to people. The incubation period of this disease is 5-6 days, during which children may complain of fatigue, weakness, and slight chills. Subsequently, small painful blisters with whitish contents appear on the mucous membranes of the oral cavity. Similar elements appear in the area of ​​the feet and hands.

The general symptoms are very similar to a banal acute respiratory infection: the body temperature rises, there may be signs of rhinitis and conjunctivitis. If the intestines are damaged, there may be dyspeptic symptoms: diarrhea or constipation.

Signs of stomatitis in children

To identify the cause of the child’s nervousness and capricious state, he must be carefully examined. The disease may not appear externally, so you need to examine the oral cavity, feel the tummy, and put your hand to the head. The first reason for refusing to eat may be the presence of small wounds in the oral cavity. A disease such as stomatitis exhibits similar symptoms.

The first signs of the disease can be recognized even without medical education: the tongue becomes covered with a white coating, as does the entire oral cavity. The presence of sores on the inside of the cheeks, lips and palate can cause a rise in temperature. If you notice such symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor for help. A dentist can diagnose the disease and prescribe treatment. It is recommended to first consult with a pediatrician, who can indicate effective methods and methods of treatment.

In children, stomatitis can occur suddenly due to several reasons that contribute to the development of infection. When an inflammatory process appears in the oral cavity, the child will experience severe pain when trying to eat. The causative agents of this disease are different types of bacteria:

• Candida mushrooms;
• Allergic stomatitis;
• Herpes virus.

Nutritional Features

Due to the fact that painful ulcers appear in the mouth with stomatitis, any meal gives the baby discomfort. Therefore, the diet during the period before recovery should have a number of features.

1. All food taken should be warm and at a temperature as close as possible to body temperature. This will prevent unnecessary irritation and will not cause acute pain.
2. Since chewing is quite painful, portions should be reduced by about a third, but the frequency of meals should be increased.
3. When feeding your baby, you should give preference to dishes with a soft consistency, and it is better to postpone dense and dry foods until complete recovery.
4. It is worth giving preference to products with a neutral taste. These are potatoes, bananas, pears, pumpkin.
5. Until recovery, spicy, salty and sour foods are completely excluded from the child’s diet.
6. To make eating less painful, you can purchase thick straws for cocktails and crush all food so that it can be drunk.
7. The emphasis is on healthy foods rich in microelements and vitamins. For example, buckwheat, oatmeal, and rice can be recommended for cereals. It is preferable to give your baby cauliflower and broccoli as vegetables.

Antiseptics and their names

If stomatitis appears on the tonsils, then doctors almost always prescribe antiseptic drugs. Such medications prevent the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms and eliminate existing viruses, fungi and bacteria. The following remedies can be used at home:

“Miramistin” or “Chlorhexidine” (the latter must be diluted before use) - the drugs eliminate the growth of bacteria, viruses and fungi, so you can’t go wrong with this medicine. Zelenka is an outdated, but proven remedy for the treatment of stomatitis, treatment of ulcers is done pointwise. Lugol - one of the most effective means for treating tonsils, treatment is carried out with a sterile cotton swab soaked in a solution. “Fukortsin” - has an antimicrobial and antifungal effect, promotes rapid tightening of aphthae and improvement of well-being. “Hexoral” - effective if stomatitis on the tonsil is caused by a herpetic infection, it is applied using a spray and has a pleasant taste. “Tantum Verde” is a spray that has an antiseptic and analgesic effect, suitable for use even in pregnant women.

All antiseptics must be used carefully. Many of the drugs described have a drying effect, which can be harmful if used excessively.

Is stomatitis contagious?

Infectious variants of the disease are quite easily transmitted from sick children to healthy ones. Most often, the infection spreads through airborne droplets from saliva during normal talking, coughing or sneezing.

The herpes virus can pass from an infected mother to the child during childbirth or during breastfeeding in the event of an exacerbation of herpetic inflammation.

We must remember that some forms of infectious stomatitis may well be transmitted through shared objects. This is especially true for cutlery, toys and personal care products. Therefore, if a child gets stomatitis, it is necessary to take measures aimed at preventing the possibility of its transmission to healthy children.

1. If there is another child in the family, then it is worth protecting him from communication with the sick baby for at least a few days.
2. It is imperative to provide the patient with individual household items that can be processed separately from the belongings of the rest of the family.
3. If a case of stomatitis is detected in a kindergarten, it is recommended to disinfect all toys that healthy children may come into contact with.

How many days do people suffer from stomatitis and what to do at the first signs of it?

How long does stomatitis last? This question is of great concern to parents of sick children, since all the symptoms of the disease are unpleasant and cause discomfort to the child.

The duration of the disease depends on its form. Acute variants of stomatitis with adequate drug treatment resolve within 14 days.

If the disease does not go away for a month or more, then they talk about the chronic course of such a pathology. In this case, it is possible to alternate periods of subsidence of clinical symptoms and their exacerbation - recurrent stomatitis.

If you suspect signs of stomatitis in your child, you should urgently consult a doctor who will tell you how to numb the mucous membrane and prescribe comprehensive treatment. If it is not possible to visit a doctor as soon as the first symptoms of the disease begin, then it is possible to independently numb the mouth with local drugs (Dentinox, Kalgel). And you can’t delay medical consultation!

Possible complications

The prognosis for the disease is usually favorable. However, incorrect or untimely treatment can lead to the development of complications:

• The addition of a secondary bacterial infection, accompanied by a worsening of the sick child’s condition.
• Sometimes severe necrotizing forms of stomatitis lead to osteomyelitis - destruction of the bone tissue of the jaw.
• Persistent or frequent stomatitis can provoke the loss of teeth from both the primary and permanent sets.
• The presence of a chronic purulent inflammatory focus in a child’s body negatively affects the state of immunity, and also, under the influence of unfavorable factors, can lead to blood poisoning - sepsis.

Prevention in infants

Preventive measures should begin in a newborn child immediately after he is discharged from the maternity hospital. For the first days and months of life, it is necessary to adhere to thorough disinfection of toys, bottles during artificial feeding, or to treat the nipples immediately before applying to the breast.

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An important point is regular visits to the dentist from the first teeth. It is necessary to carefully care for your baby’s oral cavity and use only special toothbrushes and toothpastes, preferably those recommended by the doctor.

Symptoms of stomatitis in children

The first symptom of stomatitis in a child that can be seen by relatives is dry, flaky lips. A small white coating may form on the tongue, which over time can spread throughout the mouth. Infants may well become infected with fungal stomatitis, which manifests itself in the form of small white spots. By their nature, the spots resemble milk that has curdled on the tongue. Sometimes such stomatitis can occur as a result of long-term treatment with antibiotics. That is why doctors do not recommend long-term use of such drugs.

An increase in temperature is one of the primary symptoms, which may also indicate that the child is sick. Lack of appetite, lethargy, whims - these are the first symptoms that need to be responded to in terms of diagnosing the oral cavity in a child.