Here only the oral herpetic infection produced by HSV-1 will be presented. Ninety-nine percent of affected individuals undergo a subclinical infection that in children may be confused with eruption gingivitis. One percent of affected individuals develop the full-blown disease. The primary infection or primary herpetic gingivostomatitis occurs mostly in children from age six months to puberty. Cases in adults are also seen.
Vesicles are the basic manifestations of the disease.
These vesicles, initially intraepithelial in location, coalesce forming bullae which extend to the dermis thus, becoming subepithelial. Vesicles and bullae break, leaving painful ulcers. The ulcers are seen in any of the oral mucosas and the oropharynx. The gingiva is hyperplastic and characterized by marked erythema, especially of the interdental papillae. Occasional crusting over these ulcers, especially on the lip, is also seen in the late stage of the infection.