Herpetic gingivostomatitis and teething difficulty in infants.

This investigation was conducted to determine whether primary herpetic gingivostomatitis may be responsible for those signs and symptoms commonly attributed to teething in infants. Twenty infants presenting with a parental diagnosis which indicated teething difficulty were included in this study (Group A). Twenty infants who were in no distress served as controls (Group B). Oral swab samples were obtained from each infant and then processed to ascertain the presence of herpes simplex virus (HSV). Each infant's temperature and oral status also were recorded. Nine subjects in Group A (45%) were positive for HSV. Of these nine, seven had elevated temperatures (less than 100 degrees F) and all had signs of oral infection of varying severity. Of the 11 subjects in Group A who were negative for HSV, five had elevated temperatures, but none showed evidence of oral infection. Subjects in Group B were all negative for HSV, elevated temperature, and signs of oral infection. Results of this study suggest that oral HSV infection should be included in the differential diagnosis of infants presenting with a parental diagnosis of teething difficulty.