Australian Dental Council (ADC) Practice Test

Herpetic gingivostomatitis is characterized by painful cervical lymphadenitis and high fever in children primarily due to an infection caused by the herpes simplex virus, most commonly type 1. This condition typically manifests with vesicular lesions in the oral cavity, inflammation of the gums, and significant oral pain, which can make it difficult for children to eat or drink. The associated cervical lymphadenopathy occurs as the body mounts an immune response to the virus, causing lymph nodes in the neck to become swollen and painful. High fever is also a common systemic response during acute viral infections, further supporting the diagnosis of herpetic gingivostomatitis in this context.

In comparison, measles also presents with high fever and may involve lymphadenopathy but features specific rash and other systemic symptoms like cough and conjunctivitis, making it a distinct diagnosis. Scarlet fever is characterized by a sandpaper-like rash, sore throat, and sometimes fever, but typically does not present with painful cervical lymphadenitis as the primary symptom. Chickenpox involves itchy vesicular lesions and fever but does not usually result in severe cervical lymphadenitis or the same degree of pain associated with herpetic gingivostomatitis.