A person without a medical education often replaces complex professional terms with simple everyday names. So, for example, cracks and wounds that “decorate” the corners of the lips are called jams. In fact, this is a manifestation of angular stomatitis. What kind of disease is this and how can you fight it?
What is angular stomatitis?
It may seem that medicine is deliberately trying to confuse patients by giving many names to one process. The card sometimes says: angular cheilitis, angular cheilitis, angular stomatitis, cheilosis, angular stomatitis, slit-like impetiligo. In fact, they are all the same disease. That is, a small inflammatory process in the oral cavity caused by the appearance of Candida yeast-like fungi 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 the doctor with a similar problem. In most cases, it is possible to cope with seizures using improvised methods. However, do not forget that in a neglected state, any disease is more difficult to treat. Moreover, inflammationthe corners of the lips can be a symptom of a more complex internal disease.
General clinical picture
Angular stomatitis can occur 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 scrapings from the surface of the affected area. Only in this way can he make a reliable diagnosis.
First there is a slight inflammation in the corner of the mouth. The inflamed area bursts and a crack appears, which may be wet or crusted. The site of the lesion begins to itch or cause a burning sensation, and while eating or talking, the person experiences pain.
Now it's worth understanding the difference between candida and streptococcal congestion.
Streptococcal disease
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 bubbles. Inside they are filled with a clear or cloudy liquid. Streptococcal infection is always clearly visible from the outside. Erosion can occur both from two and from one side of the oral cavity. Bubbles are localized in the corners of the lips or at a short distance from them. After some time, erosion of the mucous epithelium appears at the site of the burst bubble. Then cracks form over the erosion. If treatment is not started in a timely manner, then the cracks deepen andreach the layer of lymphatic capillaries. Discharge from the wound appears, which causes thickening and drying of the skin. An inelastic crust is formed, which cracks when you need to open your mouth wide, eat, or talk normally. The patient's appetite decreases, general well-being worsens, itching and burning of the affected areas appear.
Candida lesion
If angular stomatitis is candidal in nature, then it develops slowly. In some cases, the lesion is localized in the inner corners of the lips, and it is not visible from the outside. If the inflammatory process has affected the outer corners of the lips, then they can be considered reddish erosion, surrounded by pale loose skin. The corners of the mouth are not covered with a crust, but, on the contrary, get wet. A whitish curdled coating appears on them. These are the waste products of the fungus Candida. At the initial stage, the candidal form does not have bubbles, this is important for making a diagnosis. The inflammatory process is almost always characterized by damage to both corners of the mouth.
Reasons for zaeda
To a limited extent, streptococci and yeast fungi can be found on the skin of an absolutely he althy person. To activate pathogenic microflora, certain conditions are necessary.
The cause of the appearance of seizures as an independent symptom can be:
- injury to the skin, such as squeezing a pimple near the corner of the lip;
- poor oral hygiene;
- ill-fitting denturesdentures;
- dirty dishes;
- dirty fruits and vegetables;
- hypothermia.
Zaeda as a symptom of other diseases
If angular stomatitis is a symptom of a more complex process, then the approach to its elimination should be different. Seizures can be symptoms of the following diseases:
- avitaminosis;
- all kinds of anemia;
- viral infections associated with prolonged fever;
- hypovitaminosis;
- immunodeficiency states;
- diabetes;
- allergic reactions;
- disorders of the digestive tract.
In this case, when eliminating jams in the corners of the mouth, the causes and treatment should be interconnected. First of all, therapy is directed against the underlying disease, since only symptomatic treatment will not help.
Treatments
As always, treatment is preceded by examination and diagnosis. If the seizure is not a symptom of another disease, then its causative agent is determined. For the candidal form, the appointment of antimycotic drugs is required, since the fight will go with a fungal infection. Additionally, it may be necessary to treat the affected areas of the skin with antiseptics. Specialists often prescribe the antifungal drug Clotrimazole. And for the subsequent healing "Bepanten" and "D-panthenol".
To eliminate the streptococcal form, you will need an antibacterial ointment from seizures. The liquid preparation "Stomatidin" helps well. Means appointin the form of rinses or lotions. It equally effectively affects both streptococci and fungal flora. Antibiotic ointments, such as erythromycin, are often prescribed. The well-known Vishnevsky ointment helps everyone.
If topical therapy does not resolve corners of the mouth, the causes and treatment must be further investigated and corrected. It may be necessary to prescribe vitamin complexes, immunomodulators or general strengthening agents. The underlying disease is treated or the allergic reaction is eliminated, and the treatment of angular stomatitis is carried out in parallel or at the end of the course of the main 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 should not be touched with hands, that it should not be scratched and licked. When a seizure occurs in a child, what to treat should be determined by a pediatrician. Uncontrolled use of medicines can cause great harm to the baby. In many cases, peroxide or brilliant green treatment is sufficient.
If a candidal form is detected, which is not very common in children, then nystatin or levorin ointment is prescribed. Older children additionally rinse their mouths, and babies treat the corners of their lips with soda solution.
If the bites are due to an allergy to any product, then parents should carefully remove food debris from the corners of the mouth and exclude it from the diet.
Traditional medicine
In simple cases, it is enough to use folk remedies. Many, having discoveredangular stomatitis, treatment is carried out at home. The main direction is to soften the crust and heal the wound. The following products will do:
- Vegetable oils. To keep the skin soft, purified oils can be applied to the site of erosion. A sea buckthorn, olive or linen version is well suited. But tea tree oil can be used not only to soften, but to disinfect the affected area. In this case, short-term applications are performed. A few drops of tea tree oil are applied to a piece of gauze and applied for 2-5 minutes.
- Homemade vitamin-nourishing ointment. A spoon of honey, 10 drops of fish oil and 2 drops of liquid vitamins A and E are mixed in a small container. The best option is to apply in the evening and leave until morning.
- You can fight the jams by rubbing them several times a day with aloe juice.
- Infusions prepared from medicinal herbs are also suitable for treatment. In this case, chamomile, sage, oak bark are effective. Washing should be done 3-5 times a day.
- Effectively fights against angular stomatitis psyllium juice. The plant is harvested away from busy roads, washed and ground. Juice is squeezed out of the resulting slurry, which is used for rubbing and lotions.
- Propolis can be used for treatment. If this is an alcohol infusion, then after applying the antiseptic, emollient oils are applied.
- Effective remedy is earwax. It's not very aesthetically pleasing, but effective enough. Apply sulfur several times a day.
- Has an antibacterial effectfresh garlic. You can apply thin plates or ground gruel to the wounds in the corners of the mouth.
If improvised means do not bring visible results within a few days, then it's not worth the risk. It is best to consult a doctor, and use traditional medicine as an addition to the main treatment.
Disease prevention
To prevent angular stomatitis, if it is not a symptom accompanying another disease, it is enough to regularly and carefully perform hygiene procedures, visit a dentist twice a year to examine the oral cavity and detect caries or periodontitis. In addition, dirty dishes and shared spoons should not be shared.
