Treatment for stomatitis in the baby

Stomatitis is an inflammation of the mouth that can cause thrush on the tongue, gums, cheeks and throat. It is more common in children, but can occur at any age. In the case of children, stomatitis is diagnosed by the pediatrician, and when it is caused by the herpes virus, it is called herpetic gingivostomatitis and it occurs mainly in babies under 3 years old.

The treatment is done according to the pediatrician's guidance and it is recommended that the baby's mouth is always clean and that drugs are used to relieve symptoms and reduce discomfort, such as Paracetamol, for example.

How to Treat Stomatitis in Baby

The treatment for stomatitis in the baby must be indicated by the pediatrician or dentist and lasts about 2 weeks, it is important to be careful with the foods the baby eats and with the hygiene of the teeth and mouth.

It is important that the baby's mouth is always clean, to avoid the proliferation of microorganisms in the cold sore, and the use of medications to relieve symptoms and reduce discomfort, such as Paracetamol, for example, may be recommended. In some cases, the use of an antiviral, Zovirax, may be recommended if it is a gingivostomatitis caused by the Herpes virus. This medication helps to heal mouth sores, but should only be used with a pediatrician's prescription.

How to feed baby sore

It is important that the baby's feeding is continued even in the presence of thrush, however it is important to take some precautions to avoid worsening symptoms, such as:

• Avoid acidic foods such as orange, kiwi or pineapple; Drink cold liquids like fruit juice like melon; Eat pasty or liquid foods like soups and puree; Prefer frozen foods like yogurt and gelatin.

These recommendations help to reduce pain when swallowing, preventing cases of dehydration and malnutrition. Check recipes for baby food and juices for this phase.

How to know if it's really stomatitis

Infantile stomatitis is very common in children under 3 years old, but it can happen until adolescence. It usually causes symptoms such as irritability and poor appetite. The child cries and does not want to eat because he feels pain when the food touches the wound.

Stomatitis symptoms can include:

• Sores in the mouth or inflammation of the gums; Pain in the mouth and throat when swallowing; There may be fever above 38º; Wounds on the lips; Lack of appetite; Bad breath.

These symptoms can appear at the same time, but the only frequent thing is the appearance of thrush. In addition to stomatitis, other diseases can also cause thrush in the mouth, such as the Coxsackie virus that causes hand-foot-mouth disease, and it is important that the pediatrician evaluate the symptoms and request tests to make the correct diagnosis. Learn more about hand-foot-mouth disease.

Main causes

Stomatitis can have several causes, being more frequent due to the weakened immune system, the baby's habit of putting dirty hands and objects in the mouth, or as a consequence of the flu, for example. In addition, stomatitis can happen due to contamination by the Herpes simplex virus or the chickenpox virus, and there are usually other symptoms besides cold sore.

Stomatitis can also be related to children's eating habits, and it is common to appear due to vitamin B and C deficiency.