Herpangina is a viral illness that occurs suddenly and commonly affects infants and young children. Derived from the Greek word “herp” and the Latin word “angina,” the term means inflammation or swelling of the throat or a part of it. The condition is usually caused by a variant of the group A coxsackie virus and often manifests as small yet painful sores, bumps, or ulcers. This post discusses the causes, symptoms, and treatments for herpangina.
Signs and symptoms
Blister-like bumps in the mouth (often on the roof or at the back) are the tell-tale signs of herpangina. These blisters usually appear in groups of four to five but can even go up to 20 in some cases. They are greyish and measure one to two mm in diameter. The blisters transform into red vesicles with time.
The following discomforts may precede the formation of blisters:
- Headache
- A sudden episode of high fever that lasts for three to six days
- Drooling
- Neck and back pain
- Pain in the throat or mouth
- Loss of appetite
- Trouble breathing
- Vomiting and nausea
- Weakness in the muscles
- Seizures associated with fever (in rare cases)
The symptoms can be a bit different in every child. They usually appear two to five days after contracting the virus. Kids who experience these discomforts should be taken to a doctor for diagnosis. Health experts identify the disorder by performing a physical examination and assessing the patient’s health history.
Causes and risk factors
Herpangina is caused by a virus. The most common strains that trigger the condition are echovirus, enterovirus 71, and coxsackie virus B and A. Besides contracting the virus directly from the environment, one may get infected by coming into contact with a patient. The virus can spread unknowingly when the person shouts, coughs, sings, or sneezes. It can also spread through stool and direct contact with fluid from a sore.
Infections caused by the different herpangina virus strains are contagious, implying they can spread quickly among children. The condition is most common in kids between three and ten years. That said, it can sometimes affect adolescents and adults too. The risk of catching the virus increases significantly during the fall and summer.
Treatment options and remedies
Doctors recommend treatment after assessing the child’s symptoms, general health, and age. While herpangina sores are visually distinct from other sores and easily identifiable, their severity impacts the treatment approach. In most cases, the infection goes away on its own, but the following remedies are suggested to relieve the symptoms, boost immunity, and help the body fight the virus:
- Increasing fluid intake
- Eating a bland meal, such as ice cream or cold milk
- Avoiding spicy or acidic foods
- Taking pain-relief measures
One way to prevent the disease from affecting a child is to encourage them to wash their hands regularly. Even if they have contracted the virus, proper hygiene can help arrest its spread.
Once a child contracts the disease, they generally become immune to the virus causing it. However, this still leaves them vulnerable to other strains of the pathogen, which has the potential to trigger the infection again.
