Vesicular stomatitis

Vesicular stomatitis is an acute infectious disease that often affects animals (mainly cattle). But this disease can also affect people. Vesicular stomatitis is characterized by the appearance of a rash on the oral mucosa: watery blisters. Sometimes the disease can be asymptomatic.

Cases of vesicular stomatitis are most often registered on the American continent, Asia (India, China) and a few European countries. The outbreak of the disease mainly occurs during the hot period of the year - August, September.

Causes of vesicular stomatitis

Vesicular stomatitis is caused by a RNA-containing virus called vesiculorus. This pathogen belongs to the genus Vesiculorus, which in turn belongs to the family Rabdoviridae. Vesicular stomatitis is zoonotic, although human infections are not uncommon. Humans can become infected with the disease through direct contact with a sick animal: milking, cleaning, slaughtering, or through insects that carry the vesicular stomatitis virus from farm mammals – mosquitoes (particularly from the genus Aedes) and midges (genus Phlebotomus). It can be concluded that those at risk are mainly people working in agricultural industries, as well as veterinarians and laboratory workers.

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Symptoms of vesicular stomatitis

Let us recall that vesicular stomatitis is most often diagnosed in the summer, when insects are rampant and hot weather provokes the appearance of various diseases. The incubation period of the virus after it enters the human body is 2-6 days, after which the infected person begins to feel a headache, pain when moving the eyes, general muscle weakness, chills, runny nose, and fever. Patients also often complain of enlarged lymph nodes in the cervical region. Characteristic of this disease is the appearance of water-filled bubbles on the oral mucosa - vesicles, around which a red outline is formed. These bubbles are localized mainly on the lips, gums, tongue and inner surface of the cheeks. Vesicles are quite painful, so eating with this disease causes a very unpleasant sensation.

Enteroviral vesicular stomatitis in children

Enterovirus vesicular stomatitis affects small children, so this disease is almost never found among adults. The disease is viral in nature, which can be transmitted both by airborne droplets and by the fecal-oral route. The causative agent of enterovirus vesicular stomatitis is the Coxsackie virus A-16 from the genus Enterovirus. The most favorable habitat for the virus is hot weather with high humidity, so it is in the summer that children are most likely to catch this infection. It should be noted that this type of disease is not transmitted through animals, but is a childhood viral disease.

The main symptom of this viral disease is the appearance of watery blisters not only on the oral mucosa, but also on the palms and feet, which is why enterovirus vesicular stomatitis is called hand-foot-mouth disease. Sometimes in literature you can find an alternative name for this disease: enterovirus vesicular stomatitis with exanthema and coxsackie virus. Children are at risk of this disease after suffering a respiratory disease, since the immune system is still weakened and cannot yet fully resist the new virus. Enteroviruses spread quite quickly, since they are carried by both people and insects.

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Symptoms and treatment of enterovirus vesicular stomatitis

The symptoms of the disease, in addition to watery blisters (vesicles), are fever, runny nose, pain in the throat, weakness in the body and muscle pain. The child's activity noticeably decreases, he becomes irritable and lethargic. It should be noted that the vesicles are quite painful, and their appearance provokes itching.

Enterovirus vesicular stomatitis is treated fairly quickly and passes without a trace if you consult a doctor in time. As a medicine, you can recommend the immunomodulator "Interferon", which will not only help to quickly cope with the disease, but will also become a good preventive drug for combating childhood viral diseases. Treatment of enterovirus vesicular stomatitis is carried out by the same method as vesicular stomatitis, that is, symptomatic. The disease must not be neglected, since there is a risk of complications in the form of meningitis, acute flaccid paresis, encephalitis.

Prevention of enterovirus vesicular stomatitis and its complications

Prevention of the disease is the general strengthening of the child's body, healthy and nutritious nutrition. Thorough hand washing is also a good prevention of enterovirus vesicular stomatitis, since the virus can be transmitted by contact. Hardening the body has a very positive effect on strengthening the immune system. If a child has contracted this disease, he must be isolated from other children for a while, since the infection spreads very quickly.

Prevention of complications is the exclusion of uncontrolled use of antibiotics, which only reduce the protective reaction of the body's immune system. Parents should carefully monitor the oral cavity of their child, carry out the rinsing procedure in time.

Vesicular stomatitis in animals

Vesicular stomatitis is, by its nature, primarily a disease of ungulates, which causes high temperature, profuse salivation, decreased appetite, and the formation of watery blisters of various sizes - vesicles. The rash is observed in the oral cavity and mucous membrane of the nose, lower abdomen, and also in the interdigital spaces.

The vesicular stomatitis virus usually affects cattle. Horses, pigs, mules, and sheep are also susceptible to this disease, but to a lesser extent. In the wild, vesicular stomatitis occurs among wild boars, deer, roe deer, and raccoons. Young animals from six months to two years are most susceptible to the disease. The virus is spread mainly by airborne droplets and through the bites of insects that carry the disease. The source of the virus is an infected animal, the virus of which can be spread through water, feed, and milking machines. An animal that has had vesicular stomatitis acquires immunity to this virus for 6-12 months.

Symptoms of vesicular stomatitis in animals

Vesicular stomatitis causes fever in animals, profuse salivation, and the appearance of vesicles of various sizes. Watery blisters are mainly concentrated on the mucous membrane: on the lips, inside of the cheeks, tongue, palate. The nasal mirror, udder and interdigital spaces (in cattle) are often affected in animals, as well as the wings of the nose, auricles, lower abdomen, and hoof crown (in horses). The disease usually lasts about two weeks, after which the animals recover. But there are also cases of death, especially in the younger generation.

Treatment and prevention of vesicular stomatitis in animals

Treatment of vesicular stomatitis in animals, as well as in humans, involves symptomatic therapy. During treatment, antimicrobial drugs and anti-inflammatory agents are used. An animal suffering from the disease is often given water to drink and fed soft food. Prevention of vesicular stomatitis is vaccination of livestock to strengthen the immune system. It has been noted that with the first vaccination, the animal acquires immunity for 2-3 months, and with a repeated procedure, the duration of immunity is 12 months. If there is a suspicion of infection of an animal with an RNA-containing virus, it must be immediately isolated from other mammals. In the event of the spread of vesicular stomatitis among livestock, measures must be taken to quarantine the area.

Diagnosis of vesicular stomatitis

Vesicular stomatitis is diagnosed by a dentist or infectious disease specialist. The patient is referred for serological or virological testing, but usually this disease is not so difficult to recognize, as it has characteristic distinctive features and a way of progressing.

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Treatment of vesicular stomatitis

During the treatment of vesicular stomatitis, the doctor prescribes symptomatic therapy, since there is no direct treatment for the disease as such. Symptomatic treatment includes adequate rest, plenty of fluids, taking antipyretic drugs, treating the oral mucosa with antiseptic solutions (Suprastin, Hexetidine, Pilpofen), using antiviral ointments - redoxol, oxolinic and tebrofen. The doctor often prescribes various antiherpetic drugs (Famciclovir, Acyclovir, Valaciclovir), which are sold in pharmacies in the form of ointments or tablets. Signs of the disease quickly go away, and the patient recovers if you follow the doctor's instructions. Vesicular stomatitis, as a rule, does not cause complications, unless, of course, you neglect the disease and do not take care of yourself.

Prevention of vesicular stomatitis

Prevention of vesicular stomatitis includes compliance with the rules of personal hygiene and animal hygiene. If there is a sick person among family members or acquaintances, he or she must be isolated from the environment for the duration of the illness, since the disease is viral in nature. To prevent the disease, it is necessary to avoid visiting countries and regions where vesicular stomatitis is a common case, especially during the hot season.