Herpangina
Herpangina is an illness caused by a Coxsackie virus. because it was first found in patients in the town of Coxsackie in eastern New York. Its is characterized by small blister-like bumps or ulcers that appear in the mouth, usually in the back of throat or the roof of the mouth. The illness may be called hand, foot, and mouth disease. The child often has a high fever with the illness. The virus is classified as an "enterovirus", which means that it is most often found in the gastrointestinal tract, and although enteroviruses are commonly responsible for gastroenteritis .they can cause many other diseases as well, including fever without other symptoms. There are tests to see if you are infected with the virus, but they rely on the immunity you develop to the virus and so take several weeks to run, and these tests are available mainly in research laboratories. The herpangina virus can be spread by saliva and mouth-to-mouth contact, as well as by contact with an infected person's stools. It usually takes 3-6 days after exposure to become infected. We tend to see more cases of herpangina in the summer; the rise in herpangina cases we see each summer seems to be related to the weather. In more severe infections, there are more sores in the mouth -- inside the lips and on the inside of the cheeks, as well as in the throat. We can also see blisters around the outside of the mouth, and in the full-blown infection we find painful blisters on the palms and on the soles of the feet. The biggest problem with herpangina, though, is that the pain may make it difficult for you to drink enough to avoid becoming dehydrated.
Causes of Herpangina
Common causes of Herpangina
- Ulcers.
- Infection.
- Echovirus
- Coxsackieviruses.
- Herpangina.
- Transmitted in saliva.
Symptoms of Herpangina
Common symptoms of Herpangina
- Lesions inside the mouth.
- Sore throat.
- Fever.
- Painful swallowing.
- Headache.
- Backache.
- Runny nose.
- Drooling.
- Vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Similar lesions on feet, hands, buttocks.
- Ulcers on the lips, gums, tongue, inside of the cheeks, and the back of the throat.
Treatment of Herpangina
Common Treatment of Herpangina
- 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.
- Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and other over-the-counter pain medicines can be helpful. There are also some prescription medicines that can be swished around the mouth to help soothe the pain enough for you to drink and maybe even to eat.
- Proper handwashing is essential in helping to prevent the disease from being spread to other children.
- Ensure that patients maintain adequate hydration and caloric intake during the illness.
- OTC throat sprays to reach lesions in the back of the mouth for older children who can cooperate.
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