Acute herpetic gingivostomatitis (AHG) is a viral infection of the oral mucosa caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1. It occurs most frequently in infants and children under 6 years old and presents with diffuse erythema and edema of the gums, as well as clusters of vesicles dispersed throughout the mouth, lips, palate, and tongue. The symptoms include generalized oral soreness and fever, and the full course of the disease is typically 7-10 days. After the primary infection subsides, the virus can remain latent in nerve tissues and potentially reactivate to cause cold sores.