Dental OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) Practice Exam

What type of virus is primarily responsible for the lesions seen in primary gingivostomatitis?

1. Human immunodeficiency virus

2. Herpes simplex virus

3. Human papillomavirus

4. Varicella zoster virus

The correct answer is: Herpes simplex virus

The lesions seen in primary gingivostomatitis are primarily caused by the herpes simplex virus. This viral infection typically presents in young children and manifests as painful ulcers in the mouth and gingiva, along with systemic symptoms like fever and irritability. The herpes simplex virus is known for its ability to establish latency within nerve ganglia, which can lead to recurrent episodes of oral lesions. In contrast, the other viruses mentioned serve different roles in oral pathology; human immunodeficiency virus is more associated with immunosuppression and opportunistic infections, human papillomavirus primarily relates to warts and certain cancers, and varicella zoster virus is responsible for chickenpox and shingles, which are distinct from the oral lesions characteristic of gingivostomatitis. The association of herpes simplex virus with the specific symptomatology and clinical presentation of primary gingivostomatitis makes it the correct answer.