What is the recommended treatment for primary herpetic stomatitis?

• A. Antibiotics
• B. Palliative care
• C. Do nothing
• D. Antifungals

Answer: (B)

The recommended treatment for primary herpetic stomatitis primarily involves palliative care. This condition, which is often caused by the herpes simplex virus, typically manifests as painful sores in the mouth and can cause significant discomfort.

Palliative care focuses on providing relief of symptoms rather than targeting the viral infection directly. This includes measures such as encouraging the patient to maintain hydration, using pain relievers, and recommending soft food to avoid irritation of the sores. Oftentimes, the viral infection will resolve on its own within a couple of weeks, so the goal of treatment is to alleviate discomfort during this time.

In contrast, antibiotics and antifungals are not effective against viral infections like herpes simplex. While doing nothing might seem acceptable in cases of mild symptoms, it is not the optimal approach when a patient is experiencing significant pain or discomfort. Thus, focusing on palliative care is the most compassionate and effective treatment strategy.