Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Case Report
  • Published:

Oral diseases

Primary gingivostomatitis and herpetic whitlow

British Dental Journal volume 234, page 510 (2023)Cite this article

Primary herpetic gingivostomatitis is an acute infection of the oral cavity caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus. It is self-limiting and usually resolves itself in 10-14 days.1 Primary management includes reassurance, advice on symptom relief (paracetamol and/or ibuprofen), adequate fluid intake and optional antibacterial mouthwash to aid oral hygiene. It is also important to highlight the risk of transmission to other sites and other humans: no kissing and no nail biting!2 The patient was informed that once infected with HSV, it can be reactivated throughout life and present as herpes labialis.3 We also made the patient aware of the risk of infection spreading from the finger to the hand, causing viral cellulitis.4

At review, the patient had made a full recovery though he was a little lighter! This patient was prescribed multiple courses of antibiotics and passed from clinic to clinic without a formal diagnosis. This case report serves to remind clinicians of this grim condition but reassure them the strategy is simple and these patients will make a full recovery.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

References

  1. Heliotis I, Whatling R, Desai S, Visavadia M. Primary herpetic gingivostomatitis in children. BMJ 2021; doi: 10.1136/bmj-2021-065540.

  2. NICE. Scenario: Herpes labialis (cold sores) and gingivostomatitis. October 2021. Available at: https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/herpes-simplex-oral/management/herpes-labialis-gingivostomatitis/ (accessed November 2022).

  3. Whitley R, Kimberlin D W, Prober C G. Pathogenesis and disease. In Arvin A, Campadelli-Fiume G, Mocarski E et al. (eds) Human herpesviruses: biology, therapy, and immunoprophylaxis. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007.

  4. Collier E, Parikh P, Martin-Blais R, Chen J, Anand V. Herpetic whitlow of the toe presenting with severe viral cellulitis. Pediatr Dermatol 2019; 36: 406-407.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Manchester Dental Hospital, Manchester, UK

    N. Amin & J. Darcey

Authors
  1. N. Amin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. Darcey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to N. Amin or J. Darcey.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Amin, N., Darcey, J. Primary gingivostomatitis and herpetic whitlow. Br Dent J 234, 510 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-023-5744-6

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-023-5744-6

Search

Advanced search

Quick links