Herp angina

Recently a friend of mine told me about herp angina when she took her child to the doctor and upon initially hearing the diagnosis of herpangina she immediately became upset thinking the physician meant herpes.

Although the name of the angina herp condition sounds similar to herpes, almost all of the viruses that cause herp angina are coxsackieviruses not herpesvirus. My friend expressed to me that doctors should just say, "Your child has a herpangin virus" and then explain further the causes without upsetting parents needlessly.

What is herpangina?

The term herp angina is derived from herp, which means itching and angina, which translates into a sore throat. The illness most commonly affects babies and young children. Hyperangina usually occurs most during the summer and fall.

What causes herpangina?

Herpangina is caused by a virus. The most common viruses that cause herpangina include Coxsackie viruses and echovirus infection. This virus is transmitted in saliva. Herpangina is a fairly common childhood disease and is typically seen most often in children between the ages of 3 and 10. Proper hand washing helps prevent the spread of this childhood disease. Herpangina is less commonly found affecting adolescents and adults.

Symptoms of herpangina

Each child may experience symptoms differently. Fever is frequently the first apparent symptom. Patients suffering with this infection characteristically develop a temperature of 101-104°F. Older children often complain of backaches or headaches. The following are commonly reported symptoms of herpangina:

* Rapid onset of high fever, possibly up to 106 F

* Difficulty swallowing due to pain

* Severe sore throat

* Loss of appetite from the pain of mouth sores which leads to dehydration

* Grayish white spots around or on tonsils

* Ulcers on the back of throat, inside cheeks, lips, tongue, gums

* Small blisters surrounded by pus and redness inside the cheeks, on the roof of the mouth, and back of the throat

* Stomach pains, which may mimic appendicitis

* Infants affected may become listless

* Lesions on buttocks, feet, hands

How is herpangina diagnosed?

Coxsackieviruses are also among the leading causes of aseptic meningitis. Herpangina is normally diagnosed based on a physical examination and complete history of your child by the family doctor. The unique sores caused by herpangina are usually all a qualified doctor needs to see to base the diagnosis on.

Treatment for herp angina

The illness is short-lived and generally lasts no more than a week. Treatment is directed towards helping the patient feel more comfortable and ease the pain. If similar blister-like lesions appear on the child's soles of the feet or palms of the hands, the condition may be diagnosed as hand, foot, and mouth disease. Treatments include the following:

* Throat sprays to treat sore throats

* Topical prescription medications may be helpful in extreme cases

* Ibuprofen, acetaminophen

* Nonaspirin medication such as Tylenol for pain and fever

* Non-irritating soft diet

* Increase fluids

Herbal treatments for older children include a raspberry leaf gargle for soothing mouth sores. Add a heaping teaspoon of dried raspberry leaves available at health food stores to a cup of boiled water. Let the tea steep for thirty minutes, then strain. Have your child gargle a mouthful for a minute, three times a day. Favorable results are generally felt and seen by the next day.

Specific treatments will be determined by your children's doctor based on your child's overall health, age, and medical history. The main goal in treating herpangina is to help relieve the child's symptoms. Antibiotics are an ineffective treatment since herpangina is a viral infection.

Go to Angina Attack from Herp angina