Aphthae and herpetic gingivostomatitis

Abstract

It is thus apparent from the results of various studies that the conditions called aphthous ulcer (canker sore), herpes labialis, aphthous stomatitis, herpetic stomatitis, or acute infections gingivostomatitis are infections caused by the herpes virus, since: 1. 1. The virus present in aphthous lesions, when inoculated on the scarified cornea of rabbits, produces lesions identical with those caused by the herpes simplex virus. 2. 2. Encephalitis is induced in a definite number of animals subsequent to inoculation with the virus from either herpes or aphthous lesions. 3. 3. Lipschutz intranuclear acidophilic inclusion bodies have been demonstrated in the cells of the injected cornea and the brains of animals inoculated with the virus of herpes or the virus present in aphthous stomatitis. 4. 4. Rabbits inoculated with the virus present in aphthous stomatitis are rendered immune toward the herpes virus. 5. 5. The herpetic antibody develops in the patient's serum during convalescence from either herpes lesions or aphthous stomatitis. The infection by the virus usually takes place in early childhood, and the patient harbors it for the rest of his life. The virus remains dormant until some contributory factor lowers the local tissue immunity. Then the herpetic lesion occurs. In contradistinction to other virus diseases there is no permanent immunity after an initial herpes simplex virus infection. Recurrence is the rule in infections by the herpes simplex virus. The disease is self-limiting, and treatment is aimed at palliation.