Acute-onset stomatitis in a young European woman visiting Brazil: a case report

We report a case of acute, severe stomatitis in a 20-year-old European woman shortly after her arrival in Brazil following participation in a multi-day carnival. The clinical picture was consistent with either primary herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection or herpangina caused by enteroviruse...

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Main Authors: Aleksandra Kierczak, Tomasz Smiatacz, Marta Katkowska, Katarzyna Garbacz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Oral Health
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/froh.2025.1630797/full
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author Aleksandra Kierczak
Tomasz Smiatacz
Marta Katkowska
Katarzyna Garbacz
author_facet Aleksandra Kierczak
Tomasz Smiatacz
Marta Katkowska
Katarzyna Garbacz
author_sort Aleksandra Kierczak
collection DOAJ
description We report a case of acute, severe stomatitis in a 20-year-old European woman shortly after her arrival in Brazil following participation in a multi-day carnival. The clinical picture was consistent with either primary herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection or herpangina caused by enteroviruses. Due to the absence of virological testing, a definitive diagnosis was not established. Empirical treatment with corticosteroids and antibiotics was initiated, while antiviral therapy was omitted. The patient's symptoms progressed significantly before resolving with supportive care within ten days. This case underscores the diagnostic challenges of viral oral infections in adults, especially in travelers exposed to novel pathogens. It highlights the importance of bedside diagnostic tools, the potential risks associated with empirical corticosteroid use, and the need to enhance clinician awareness of viral stomatitis as a significant and potentially debilitating condition in adult patients.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2673-4842
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Oral Health
spelling doaj-art-d2a437dc17eb4402a9357805d735f42c2025-08-20T03:50:53ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Oral Health2673-48422025-07-01610.3389/froh.2025.16307971630797Acute-onset stomatitis in a young European woman visiting Brazil: a case reportAleksandra Kierczak0Tomasz Smiatacz1Marta Katkowska2Katarzyna Garbacz3Oral Microbiology Student Scientific Club, Medical Faculty, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, PolandDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Medical Faculty, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, PolandDepartment of Oral Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, PolandDepartment of Oral Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, PolandWe report a case of acute, severe stomatitis in a 20-year-old European woman shortly after her arrival in Brazil following participation in a multi-day carnival. The clinical picture was consistent with either primary herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection or herpangina caused by enteroviruses. Due to the absence of virological testing, a definitive diagnosis was not established. Empirical treatment with corticosteroids and antibiotics was initiated, while antiviral therapy was omitted. The patient's symptoms progressed significantly before resolving with supportive care within ten days. This case underscores the diagnostic challenges of viral oral infections in adults, especially in travelers exposed to novel pathogens. It highlights the importance of bedside diagnostic tools, the potential risks associated with empirical corticosteroid use, and the need to enhance clinician awareness of viral stomatitis as a significant and potentially debilitating condition in adult patients.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/froh.2025.1630797/fullstomatitis (mucositis)herpanginaHSV-1enteroviruses (EVs)travel
spellingShingle Aleksandra Kierczak
Tomasz Smiatacz
Marta Katkowska
Katarzyna Garbacz
Acute-onset stomatitis in a young European woman visiting Brazil: a case report
Frontiers in Oral Health
stomatitis (mucositis)
herpangina
HSV-1
enteroviruses (EVs)
travel
title Acute-onset stomatitis in a young European woman visiting Brazil: a case report
title_full Acute-onset stomatitis in a young European woman visiting Brazil: a case report
title_fullStr Acute-onset stomatitis in a young European woman visiting Brazil: a case report
title_full_unstemmed Acute-onset stomatitis in a young European woman visiting Brazil: a case report
title_short Acute-onset stomatitis in a young European woman visiting Brazil: a case report
title_sort acute onset stomatitis in a young european woman visiting brazil a case report
topic stomatitis (mucositis)
herpangina
HSV-1
enteroviruses (EVs)
travel
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/froh.2025.1630797/full
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AT tomaszsmiatacz acuteonsetstomatitisinayoungeuropeanwomanvisitingbrazilacasereport
AT martakatkowska acuteonsetstomatitisinayoungeuropeanwomanvisitingbrazilacasereport
AT katarzynagarbacz acuteonsetstomatitisinayoungeuropeanwomanvisitingbrazilacasereport