Viral infections of oral cavity medium

Chickenpox (Varicella)

• Usually presents with fever and malaise.
• Develops a rash of papules that turn into vesicles.
• Rash is itchy but not painful and is unlike the rash seen in shingles.
• Commonly treated with Ibuprofen or Paracetamol for fever.
• Virus lays dormant and can be reactivated, traveling through nerve fibers.

Shingles (Herpes Zoster)

• A reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus.
• Commonly triggered by trauma, immunosuppressant drugs, and stress.
• Rash and pain typically appear on one side of the body or face.
• Affects the dorsal root ganglia and travels through nerve fibers.
• Usually presents unilaterally.
• Pain can be severe and lasting, and may trigger tingling.

Ramsay Hunt Syndrome

• Shingles of the facial nerve, affecting the trigeminal nerve.
• Presents with a vesicular rash on the tympanic membrane and auditory canal.
• Painful and can lead to paralysis, hearing loss, tinnitus, loss of taste, vertigo, dry mouth, and difficulty seeing.
• Affects one side of the face.

Oral Lesions of Shingles

• Shingles can present with oral lesions, usually on one side of the mouth.
• May cause toothache.
• Individuals may experience hypersensitivity and seek medical help.

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

• Primarily caused by Group A Coxsackie viruses.
• Presents with fever, malaise, and spots on the buttocks and groin.
• Highly contagious and spreads through air, coughing, fecal contact, and contaminated objects.
• Common outbreaks in nurseries and children.

Herpangina

• Caused by Coxsackie A viruses.
• Characterized by sores within the mouth, ulcers on the soft palate, and difficulty swallowing.
• More likely to occur in children aged 3 to 10.
• Clears within 10 days.
• Contagious for 3 weeks after onset.
• Symptoms include malaise, sore throat, and vesicles in the mouth.
• Spreads via fecal-oral route or airborne droplets.
• Often occurs in the summer.
• Typically managed with over-the-counter painkillers.

Epstein-Barr Virus (Human Herpesvirus 4)

• Most people are infected with EBV in early childhood.
• Causes parotitis, a painful swelling on the side of the face.
• Symptoms are typically mild and occur in childhood.
• If contracted after puberty, it can cause more severe symptoms.
• 1 in 4 males can experience pain and swelling of the testes.
• 1 in 20 females may experience swelling of the ovaries
• 1 in 20 may experience temporary hearing loss for 2 weeks.
• 1 in 1000 cases can lead to viral meningitis which usually lasts 1 to 2 weeks.
• 1 in 20 cases can lead to acute pancreatitis.
• Most contagious a few days before symptoms appear.
• Symptoms are managed with painkillers, bed rest, and hydration.

Measles (Measles Morbillivirus)

• One of the most highly infectious diseases known.
• Spreads via air droplets and surfaces.
• Characterized by an exanthematous rash.
• Enters through the respiratory tract.
• Presents with symptoms of headache, fever, sore throat, and Koplik's spots.
• Complications include stillbirth and miscarriage during pregnancy, vision loss, and an increased risk of bacterial infections.

Herpetic Gingival Stomatitis

• Virus that presents with ulcers in the mouth and palate.
• May be difficult to distinguish from Herpangina.
• Herpetic Gingival Stomatitis ulcers appear more anteriorly.
• Herpangina ulcers appear more posteriorly.