Patient's question:
Medical Description: My baby is 5 months old. Since he was born, we have had a full-time postpartum nurse take care of him. He has always been in good health and has never been sick. At four months, due to some reason, we had a 21-year-old girl take care of his diet and daily life, just like the postpartum nurse, and she also shared a room with him for meals and overnight stays. This girl had very bad halitosis, but we never paid attention to it. Recently, the baby suddenly developed a high fever for no apparent reason. The doctor diagnosed it as a viral oral herpes, and he has absolutely no contact with anyone or anything infected with the virus. He is still undergoing treatment. Today, while browsing a magazine called "Mom and Baby," I accidentally came across an article about halitosis, which explained that halitosis is caused by viruses attaching to the liver.Doctor's answer:
Hello: Halitosis has little impact on infants.Halitosis itself is not a disease; it is caused by various factors. These include systemic diseases (such as stomach problems, liver disease, diabetes, etc.) or deficiencies in vitamin B6 and trace elements like zinc. Most cases of halitosis are due to local oral diseases, with adolescent girls being the most affected. This is because the ovarian function of women is closely related to the oral mucosal epithelium. When ovarian hormones are secreted normally, the oral mucosal epithelium becomes healthy and strong; the salivary glands secrete more saliva, the activity of salivary lysozyme increases, and its antibacterial effect becomes stronger, enhancing the mucosa's disease resistance. If ovarian hormone secretion decreases, the salivary gland secretion function declines, saliva production decreases, the activity of salivary lysozyme weakens, and the number of pathogenic bacteria in the oral cavity increases. Saliva becomes sticky and foul-smelling, and the oral self-cleaning function weakens. Additionally, the resistance of the oral mucosal epithelium decreases, making periodontal tissues more susceptible to infections by pathogenic bacteria such as anaerobic bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, and Helicobacter pylori. This can lead to symptoms like red and swollen gums, purulent gingival pockets, widened periodontal gaps, loose teeth, and oral mucosal ulcers, resulting in halitosis. Adolescent girls often experience halitosis due to the cyclical instability of their gonadal activity, significant fluctuations in sex hormone levels, a tendency to snack frequently, and poor oral hygiene. When sex hormone secretion levels are low, it is easier for infections of the oral mucosa and periodontal tissues to occur, leading to halitosis. However, this type of halitosis is usually temporary and does not require excessive concern.