Primary herpes simplex gingivostomatitis and recurrent orolabial infection

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection may cause a wide spectrum of illness in children and adults. Gingivostomatitis is the most common specific clinical manifestation of primary HSV infection in childhood. The peak incidence appears in the 1-to 3-years age group. HSV type 1 (HSV-1) is almost always the cause. The disease is a self-limiting but painful infection of the oral mucosa causing extreme discomfort that lasts for about two weeks. Herpetic gingivostomatitis has also been described in adults, with similar clinical manifestations (1,2).