Herpangina
| Herpangina | |
|---|---|
| Classification and external resources | |
 |
|
| ICD-10 | B08.5 |
| ICD-9 | 074.0 |
| DiseasesDB | 30777 |
| MedlinePlus | 000969 |
| eMedicine | med/1004 |
| MeSH | D006557 |
Herpangina, also called mouth blisters, is the name of a painful mouth infection caused by coxsackieviruses. Usually, herpangina is produced by one particular strain of coxsackie virus A (and the term "herpangina virus" refers to coxsackievirus A)[1] but it can also be caused by coxsackievirus B or echoviruses.[2] Most cases of herpangina occur in the summer,[3] affecting mostly children. However, it occasionally occurs in adolescents and adults. It was first characterized in 1920.[4]
Contents |
[edit] Presentation
Though herpangina can be asymptomatic, symptoms usually associated are high fever and sore throat.
A small number of lesions (usually 2 - 6) form in the back area of the mouth, particularly the soft palate or tonsillar pillars. The lesions progress initially from red macules to vesicles and lastly to ulcerations which can be 2 - 4 mm in size. The lesions heal in 7 – 10 days.
Histologically, the epithelial cells show signs of intracellular and extracellular edema.
[edit] Etymology
The term is derived from herp, an itching, and angina, a sore throat, literally "a choking."
[edit] Clinical features
- Most commonly affects infants and young children
- Typically occurs during the summer
- Typically spreads via the fecal-oral route or via the respiratory droplets.
- Fatigue will last about three to four days after treatment.
[edit] Symptoms
- Mild and short in duration (no more than 1 week)
- Sore throat and difficulty swallowing
- High fever
- Referred ear pain, especially when swallowing
- Small vesicular or punctuate lesions with white base on posterior soft palate near uvula and anterior fauces of the tonsils.
A diagnosis can be made from clinical signs and symptoms, and treatment consists of minimizing the discomfort of symptoms.
[edit] Treatment
Treatment is usually supportive only,[5] as the disease is self-limiting and usually runs its course in less than a week.
Aspirin is to be avoided.[6] However, ibuprofen and acetaminophen can be used to relieve fever and discomfort.[7]
Drinking cold beverages, especially milk and eating ice cream are recommended. Hot and high acidity beverages are to be avoided.[8]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "herpangina virus" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
- ^ "herpangina" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
- ^ Michael I. Greenberg (2005). Greenberg's text-atlas of emergency medicine. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 156. ISBN 9780781745864. http://books.google.com/books?id=tjZttRRH8H8C&pg=PA156. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
- ^ Ralph D. Feigin (2004). Textbook of pediatric infectious diseases. Elsevier Health Sciences. pp. 170. ISBN 9780721693293. http://books.google.com/books?id=G6k0tpPMRsIC&pg=PA170. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
- ^ "ULCERATIVE LESIONS OF THE ORAL CAVITY". http://www.utmb.edu/otoref/grnds/Ulcer-oral-021016/Ulcer-oral-021016.htm.
- ^ http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/247/22/3089
- ^ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001964/
- ^ http://mx.globedia.com/que-es-la-herpangina-
[edit] External links
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