Merck Manual

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Herpangina

By

Brenda L. Tesini

, MD, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry

Reviewed/Revised Jun 2023
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Topic Resources

Herpangina is a febrile disorder caused by numerous group A coxsackieviruses and occasionally other enteroviruses. Infection causes oropharyngeal, mucosal, vesicular, and ulcerative lesions.

Symptoms of Herpangina

Herpangina is characterized by sudden onset of fever with sore throat, headache, anorexia, and frequently neck pain. Infants may vomit.

Within 2 days after onset, up to 20 (mean, 4 to 5) 1- to 2-mm diameter grayish papules develop and become vesicles with erythematous areolae. They occur most frequently on the tonsillar pillars but also on the soft palate, tonsils, uvula, or tongue. During the next 24 hours, the lesions become shallow ulcers, seldom > 5 mm in diameter, and heal in 1 to 7 days.

Complications of herpangina are unusual.

Lasting immunity to the infecting strain follows, but repeated episodes caused by other group A coxsackieviruses or other enteroviruses are possible.

Diagnosis of Herpangina

  • History and physical examination

Diagnosis of herpangina is based on symptoms and characteristic oral lesions.

Confirmatory testing is not usually required but can be done by

  • Isolating the virus from the lesions

  • Detecting virus by reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction

  • Demonstrating a rise in specific antibody titer

Recurrent aphthous ulcers Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a common condition in which round or ovoid painful ulcers recur on the oral mucosa. Etiology is unclear. Diagnosis is clinical. Treatment is symptomatic... read more Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis may appear similar but, unlike with herpangina, rarely occur in the pharynx and are not typically accompanied by systemic symptoms. Herpetic stomatitis Mucocutaneous herpes simplex infection Herpes simplex viruses (human herpesviruses types 1 and 2) commonly cause recurrent infection affecting the skin, mouth, lips, eyes, and genitals. Common severe infections include encephalitis... read more Mucocutaneous herpes simplex infection occurs sporadically and causes larger, more persistent, and more numerous ulcers throughout the oropharynx than herpangina. Coxsackievirus A10 causes lymphonodular pharyngitis, which is similar except that the papules become 2- to 3-mm whitish to yellowish nodules instead of vesicles and ulcers.

Treatment of Herpangina

  • Symptom relief

Treatment of herpangina is symptomatic. It includes meticulous oral hygiene (using a soft toothbrush and salt-water rinses), a soft diet that does not include acidic or salty foods, and topical measures (see treatment of stomatitis Treatment Oral inflammation and ulcers, known as stomatitis, may be mild and localized or severe and widespread. They are invariably painful. (See also Evaluation of the Dental Patient and Gingivitis... read more Treatment ).

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NOTE: This is the Professional Version. CONSUMERS: View Consumer Version
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