Angular stomatitis. Seizures in the corners of the mouth: causes and treatment
A person without medical education often replaces complex vocational terms with simple household names. So, for example, cracks and wounds, "decorating" the corners of the lips, called zaedami. In fact, this is the manifestation of angular stomatitis. What kind of illness is this and how can it be combated with it?
What is angular stomatitis?
It may seem that medicine specifically tries to confuse patients, giving many names to one process. In the card it is written: angular cheilitis, angular cheilitis, angular stomatitis, cheilosis, angular stomatitis, slit-like impetigo. In fact, all this is one and the same disease. That is, a small inflammatory process in the mouth, caused by the appearance of yeast-like Candida or streptococci, with the formation of skin defects in the corners of the mouth.
Many are sure that this is just a cosmetic defect, and do not go to a doctor with a similar problem. In most cases, it is possible to cope with zaedy improvised ways. However, do not forget that in a neglected state any disease is more difficult to treat. And besides, the inflammation of the corners of the lips is a symptom of a more complex internal disease.
General clinical picture of
Angular stomatitis can proceed in different ways, depending on the form of the bacterial lesion. As already mentioned, it can be candidal or streptococcal. Often the doctor needs not only a visual examination of skin erosion, but also an analysis of scraping from the surface of the affected area. The only way he can make a reliable diagnosis.
First there is a slight inflammation in the corner of the mouth. The inflamed area bursts and a cracks appear, which can be wet or crusted. The site of the lesion starts to itch or cause burning, and during a meal or conversation a person experiences pain.
Now we need to understand the difference between candidiasis and streptococcal galloping.
Streptococcal lesions
Angular stomatitis streptococcal form is most common in children. It starts suddenly and develops quite quickly. The first symptom is the appearance of one or more vesicles. Inside, they are filled with a clear or unclear liquid. Streptococcal congestion is always clearly visible from the outside. Erosion can occur both from two, and from one side of the oral cavity. Bubbles are localized at the corners of the lips or a short distance from them. After a while, the eruption of the mucous epithelium appears on the spot of the bursting vesicle. Then, over the erosion, cracks are formed. If treatment is not started in time, the cracks deepen and reach the layer of lymphatic capillaries. There are excretions from the wound that cause densification and drying of the skin. An inelastic crust is formed, which is cracked, if necessary, widely open the mouth, eating food, ordinary conversation. The patient's appetite decreases, general health worsens, itching and burning of affected areas occurs.
Candidiasis
If angular stomatitis is candida-like, then it develops slowly. In some cases, the lesion is located in the inner corners of the lips, and outside it is not visible. If the inflammatory process has affected the outer corners of the lips, then they can be considered reddish erosion, surrounded by pale, friable skin. The corners of the mouth are not crusted, but, on the contrary, become wet. On them appears whitish curdled scurf. These are the products of the life of Candida fungus. At the initial stage, the candida form does not have bubbles, it is important for the diagnosis. The inflammatory process is almost always characterized by the defeat of both corners of the mouth.
Reasons for the appearance of seizure
In a limited number of streptococci and yeast fungi can be found on the skin of an absolutely healthy person. To activate the pathogenic microflora, certain conditions are necessary.
The reason for the occurrence of seizure as an independent symptom may be:
- skin trauma, for example squeezing a pimple near the corner of the lip;
- poor oral hygiene;
- poorly fitted dentures;
- dirty dishes;
- dirty fruits and vegetables;
- subcooling.
Zaeda as a symptom of other diseases
If angular stomatitis is a symptom of a more complicated process, then the approach to its elimination should be different. Seizures can be symptoms of the following diseases:
- beriberi;
- all kinds of anemia;
- viral infections associated with prolonged fever;
- of hypovitaminosis;
- immunodeficiency states;
- of diabetes mellitus;
- allergic reactions;
- disorders of the digestive system.
In this case, when eliminating jam at the corners of the mouth, the causes and treatment should be interrelated. First of all, therapy is directed against the underlying disease, because only symptomatic treatment will not help.
Methods of treatment
As always, treatment is preceded by examination and diagnosis. If zaeda is not a symptom of another disease, then determine its causative agent. For the candida form, antimycotic drugs are required, since the fight will go with a fungal infection. Additionally, treatment of affected skin with antiseptics may be required. Specialists often prescribe an antifungal drug "Clotrimazole".And for the subsequent healing of "Bepanten" and "D-panthenol."
To eliminate streptococcal form will require antibacterial ointment from seizures. The liquid preparation "Stomatidin" helps a lot. The agent is prescribed in the form of rinses or lotions. It equally effectively affects both streptococci and fungal flora. Often prescribe ointments with an antibiotic, for example with erythromycin. Excellent helps all the well-known ointment Vishnevsky.
If local therapy does not eliminate seizures in the corners of the mouth, the causes and treatment should be further studied and adjusted. You may need the appointment of vitamin complexes, immunomodulators or fortifying agents. The main disease is treated or the allergic reaction is eliminated, and treatment of angular stomatitis is carried out in parallel or at the end of the course of basic therapy.
How to treat a child
Kids are restless and active. It is difficult for them to understand that a small wound on the face can not be touched by hands, that it can not be scratched and licked. When there is a seizure in a child, than to treat, the child's doctor must determine. Uncontrolled use of medicines can cause great harm to the baby. In many cases, enough treatment with peroxide or green.
If a candida form is found that children do not have very often, then prescribe nystatin or levorin ointment. Older children additionally rinse the oral cavity, and the babies are treated with corners of the lips with a soda solution.
If the seizures are due to an allergy to a product, the parents should carefully remove the food residue from the corners of the mouth and remove it from the diet.
Traditional medicine
In simple cases, it is enough to use folk remedies. Many, having discovered an angular stomatitis, are treated at home. The main direction is softening the crust and healing the wound. The following tools are suitable:
- Vegetable oils. To keep the skin soft, you can apply cleaned oils to the erosion site. Good fit sea-buckthorn, olive or linen. But the tea tree oil can be used not so much to mitigate, as to disinfect the place of injury. In this case, perform short applications. A few drops of tea tree oil is applied to a piece of gauze and applied for 2-5 minutes.
- Home vitamin-nutrient ointment. In a small container mix a spoon of honey, 10 drops of fish oil and 2 drops of liquid vitamins A and E. The best option - apply in the evening and leave until the morning.
- You can fight with baits by rubbing them several times a day with aloe juice.
- For treatment suitable and infusions made from herbs. In this case, chamomile, sage, oak bark is effective. Washing should be done 3-5 times a day.
- Effectively combats the angular stomatitis of plantain juice. The plant is collected away from busy trails, washed and grinded. From the resulting squash squeeze the juice, which is used for rubbing and lotions.
- Propolis can be used for treatment. If it is an alcoholic infusion, then after applying the antiseptic, softening oils are applied.
- Effective remedy is earwax. It's not very aesthetic, but it's quite effective. You need to apply sulfur several times a day.
- Fresh garlic has antibacterial effect. You can apply to the wound in the corners of the mouth thin plates or ground mush.
If the improvised funds do not bring a visible result within a few days, then you should not take risks. It is best to consult a doctor, and use traditional medicine as an addition to the basic treatment.
Prevention of the disease
For the prevention of angular stomatitis, if it is not a symptom associated with another disease, it is enough to regularly and carefully perform hygienic procedures, to go to the dentist twice a year to examine the oral cavity and identify caries or periodontitis. In addition, you should not use dirty dishes and common spoons.