herpangina
Pronunciation: her-pan-JI-na
A viral syndrome characterized by sudden onset of fever and painful vesicular lesions in the posterior pharynx and soft palate.
Full Definition
Herpangina is an acute febrile illness caused by coxsackievirus A strains, primarily affecting children aged 3 months to 16 years. The condition presents with abrupt onset of high fever, sore throat, and characteristic vesicular lesions that ulcerate on the posterior pharynx, soft palate, and tonsillar pillars. Unlike hand-foot-and-mouth disease, herpangina does not involve the hands or feet. The oral lesions are typically 1-2mm vesicles that rapidly progress to shallow ulcers with erythematous halos. The illness is usually self-limited, lasting 3-6 days, but can cause significant discomfort and feeding difficulties in young children.
Usage
Usage note: Emphasize the posterior distribution of oral lesions to distinguish from other viral stomatitides.
In Context
- "The patient's herpangina was confirmed by the presence of vesicles limited to the posterior oropharynx." — pediatric emergency medicine note
- "Unlike HFMD, herpangina does not involve the hands or feet." — infectious disease teaching materials