Abstract
AimThe aim of this study was to investigate the therapies administered to Italian adolescents with primary herpetic gingivostomatitis (PHGS)MethodsThe medical records of 74 adolescents with PHSG were reviewed. The following data were recorded: age, gender, day of onset, type of treatment, lesions’ severity, pain scoring, eating, and drinking ability. The oral examination was performed at the first evaluation (T0) and after one week (T1).ResultsAll patients showed up at the first visit at least 48 h after the onset of symptoms. No patient was prescribed an antiviral therapy. An antibiotic therapy was prescribed in order to prevent secondary bacterial infections. Fifteen patients had been treated with non alcoholic chlorhexidine rinses (group A), 29 patients with non alcoholic chlorhexidine rinses plus hyaluronic acid gel (group B); 30 patients with non alcoholic chlorhexidine rinses plus Mucosyte® (group C). A significant improvement of the pain scoring and lesions’ severity was noted in group C.ConclusionIn Italian adolescents, PHGS is diagnosed at least 48 h after onset and the antibiotic therapy is widely prescribed in order to prevent overinfections. Among topical therapies, an association of verbascoside and sodium hyaluronhate seems to favour a faster healing.
Highlights
Primary herpetic gingivostomatitis (PHGS) is the most commonly observed clinical manifestation of primary herpes simplex virus (HSV 1–2) infection, occurring in 25–30% of affected children and adolescents, with two peaks in age
This study aims to investigate the therapies administered in our department (Dental Clinic of the University of Brescia, Italy) for PHGS in adolescents and to evaluate their effectiveness in terms of reduction of lesions size and pain relief
An antibiotic therapy was prescribed in 74 cases in order to prevent secondary bacterial infections
Summary
Primary herpetic gingivostomatitis (PHGS) is the most commonly observed clinical manifestation of primary herpes simplex virus (HSV 1–2) infection, occurring in 25–30% of affected children and adolescents, with two peaks in age. Clinical features of PHGS include prodromal fever and symptoms, followed by oral and extra-oral lesions. Non-pathognomonic, general signs, and symptoms are fever, chills, nausea, loss of appetite, lethargy, irritability, malaise, and headache. Prodromal symptoms are often the only signs of primary HSV-1 infection and sometimes they can be so mild (or even non existent) that the affected subjects cannot recognize them. PHGS in younger adults is more severe [3, 4]. The lesions begin as vesicles, which coalesce to form painful ulcers with generalized edematous and bleeding gingivae. The affected gingivae often exhibit discernible erosions along the mid-facial free gingival margins, and these may precede the appearance of the mucosal vesicles
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