Stomatitis is otherwise called as sore mouth. It refers to the swelling of oral cavity including cheeks, lips, gums and tongue. The soft mucous membranes of the mouth gets inflamed making it difficult to eat and swallow. Stomatitis is the term used to describe inflammation of the mouth as a whole.
Types :
Stomatitis can be broadly classified into two types namely canker sore and cold sores. Canker sore is medically called as aphthous ulcer that develops as a painful sore in the cheeks, tongue and lips. It can occur either as single ulcer or in the form of groups as cluster of ulcers. Cold sores also known as fever blisters are the painful sores that develop in and around the lips.
Symptoms :
Some of the common signs of stomatitis are formation of red patches or sores in the mouth, ulcers on the mouth, blisters on the lips and oral cavitiy, peeling of skin, tingling sensation or numbness, and burning pain. Canker sores last for a week and can be very painful. Cold sores or fever blisters would cause flu like symptoms and are painful. In severe cases it can cause malnutrition (due to difficulty in eating and drinking) and dehydration.