Did your child suddenly refuse to eat or drink, or perhaps complain of an uncomfortable sensation in the oral region? They could be having an aphthous stomatitis, which is a type of oral ulceration commonly found in children. Aphthous stomatitis is a disorder of the oral mucous membrane characterized by the presence of white spots in the oral cavity, lips, or tongue. It may not be a serious or life-threatening condition, but can be very disturbing for the child. Although it may be small in size and located deep inside the oral cavity, aphthous stomatitis can cause a significant amount of pain, causing your child to refuse to eat or talk. Below are potential causes of aphthous stomatitis:

• Fungal infections Other than the mouth, fungal infections can also manifest as diaper rash or genital infections. Several things that can make a child more prone to develop aphthous stomatitis due to fungal infections include:
  • Incomplete development of the immune system. Fungal infections are common in children under1 year of age, and may also occur due to a weakened immune system following a particular disease.
  • Current long-term treatment with chemotherapy or antibiotics.
• Trauma, such as accidental biting, or abnormal shape and location of tooth, which may injure the oral cavity.
• Viral infections, such as herpes simplex virus, hand, food, and mouth disease, or measles, can also lead to aphthous stomatitis in children.
• Dental infections or abscesses.

How should aphthous stomatitis be managed? This condition can generally resolve by itself, and can take from between 7-21 days to completely disappear. The pain usually lasts for approximately 7-10 days. Below are several steps that can be followed to help manage aphthous stomatitis in children:

• Provide your child with adequate water to drink.
• Provide food with soft texture and cold temperature.
• Apply a cold compress to the ulcer with ice, which will ease the pain.

You can also consult a pediatrician for further management, which will depend on the causative factor of the ulcer.