Viral stomatitis

There are four common viral infections which cause inflammation of the mouth:

• herpes simplex type I:
  • stomatitis in association with cold sores
    
    
• hand, foot and mouth disease:
  • due to a Coxsackie A virus
  • commonly in children
  • vesicles in mouth, palm of hands and soles of feet
    
    
• herpes zoster:
  • mouth may be involved in a herpetic eruption in the territory of the fifth cranial nerve
  • vesicles are usually unilateral
    
    
• glandular fever:
  • caused by infection with the Epstein-Barr virus
  • palatal petechiae are associated with acute tonsillitis and pharyngitis