Oral Herpes Simplex

Etiology:
Herpes virus hominis, Most commoly type I virus, but approximately 10% are thought to be caused by Type II.

Clinical Forms:
- Oral Herpes Simplex occurs in three clinical forms:
1- Recurrent small blisters on the lips commonly referred to as fever blisters or secondary herpes labialis. (most common form).
2- Generalized oral infection called primary herpetic stomatitis.
3- Small ulcers usually localized on palatal mucosa. (least common form).

Treatment:
- Antiviral drugs such as Acyclovir, Famciclovir, Penciclovir, Valacyclovir and over-the-counter Abreva have all shown that they can decrease the time of disease as well as help with pain management.
- Treatments that suppress the immune system abnormalities may improve more severe lesions and lessen pain.

Prognosis:
- Primary infection usually resolves in 10-14 days. Once the virus has entered the body, it travels through nerve trunks to the nearest ganglion where it may lie dormant for the remainder of the patient’s life.
- The Recurrence occured by “reawakening” of the virus, not reinfection from the outside.
Patients should drink liquids to prevent dehydration, should take a broad-spectrum antibiotic to control secondary bacterial infection, but does not shorten the viral infection. Antiviral drugs may shorten the duration of the disease if they are started early. (once the symptoms appear).
Clinicians should be aware that the herpes virus may cause disseminated infection including encephalitis in which case the prognosis is extremely grave.

Differential Diagnosis:
- Primary herpetic stomatitis may resemble oral lesions of erythema multiforme, but herpes can be diagnosed by exfoliative cytology.
- Lesions of herpangina and hand, foot and mouth disease, both caused by Coxsackievirus, may clinically resemble oral herpes virus infections.
- Recurrent intraoral herpes may be confused with herpes zoster.
- Aphthous Ulcer can be differentiated since it usually does not occur over bone, does not form vesicles and is not accompanied by fever or gingivitis.

-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------

If you have any sugesstions or other informations, please don't be hesitate to ask or feedback us
Thanks for reading

Yours,
:: World Of Dentistry :: TEAM