canker sores

April 7, 2009

I think the original question was about canker sores, not cold sores.

Canker sores are not localized to only the oral area and can occur on any

mucosal membrane.

But I think the poster was asking about canker sores in the mouth of her child.

I was letting her know that many doctors diagnose these incorrectly as herpetic

lesions, when in fact they are not.

They are auto-immune related. One has to do tests to find the specific

auto-immune condition and underlying cause(there are many out there). Due to

limited testing in certain labs and the fact that many labs do not do

quantitative tests, the cause is sometimes left as unknown.

Many environmental causes activate auto immune conditions, one of which is

viruses. Another is foods we eat. Another is stress and o forth.

I hope this andthe links given have helped the original poster understand the

condition better.

> >

>

April 7, 2009

:

If you go and look at your posting when you first told me I was incorrect- YOUR

link from Mercola? grouped Canker Sores and Cold Sores into one group! They are

separate and you are not the end all authority on all subjects in which no one

else is able to provide an opinion or insight on any issue that might come up.

there was no need to be " blunt " in stating your opinion of the current challenge

that a parent might be having.

I can only hope that the next issue will be more Apraxia related.

> >

> > Canker sores are not herpes, but Cold Sores are and they are contagious.

Canker sores are inside the mouth and cold sores are outside the mouth.

> >

> > A canker sore is completely different than a cold sore. Canker sores are

not caused by a virus.

April 7, 2009

This is just one of those " could be any child " things so one could either ask

here -or google to find info. But does this come up here often...no. In fact I

don't recall it ever coming up before (would have to check to know for sure)

Here's what I found on a quick search since it ties in with the insurance

question I just answered (which does come up often!):

AHealthyMe.com

Canker Sores

Woolston

CONSUMER HEALTH INTERACTIVE

Below:

• What are canker sores?

• What causes canker sores?

• How can I treat them?

• When should I call the doctor?

• How can I prevent my child from getting canker sores?

What are canker sores?

They're small, painful, crater-like nuisances that sprout on the tongue or on

the inside of the cheeks. The sores are usually white, gray, or yellowish with a

red rim and last up to two weeks. (Some people confuse them with cold sores,

which form blisters instead of craters and usually show up on or around the

lips.) Canker sores are most common in teenagers and women, but they can strike

children as young as 2.

What causes canker sores?

These simple sores are a real mystery. Nobody knows why they erupt, but several

factors seem to set the stage for their arrival, including emotional stress,

irritation from sour or spicy foods, or injury to the mouth's lining from

toothbrushing, biting, hot liquids, or rough foods such as corn chips. If your

child frequently gets sores, he may have a more deep-rooted problem such as a

food allergy or a deficiency of vitamin B-12, folic acid, or iron.

Unlike cold sores, canker sores aren't caused by a virus or any other type of

germ, and they can't spread from one person to another. So don't turn down a

goodnight kiss just because your child has a canker sore. (Remember, the kiss

supply will run awfully low in a few years!)

How can I treat them?

Once canker sores appear, there's no way to speed their healing. But you can

take some steps to make the sores less painful and annoying. Have your child

avoid spicy, sour, or rough-edged foods like corn chips that can irritate the

sores. If he's old enough, have him rinse his mouth several times each day with

a cup of warm water mixed with half a teaspoon of salt (don't let him swallow).

For younger children, apply a paste of baking soda and water directly on the

sore after meals. You can also ease the pain with an over-the-counter salve,

Zilactin, which contains tannic acid that will numb the sore; it stings terribly

for a few minutes, though, so it's not a realistic option for young children.

Ibuprofen or acetaminophen will also lessen pain from the sores. (Don't use

aspirin in anyone under 20; it may cause Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially

life-threatening illness.) With luck, you might be able to coax your child into

eating a dish of cold ice cream to numb the spot.

When should I call the doctor?

Schedule an appointment with your pediatrician if the sores last more than two

weeks, the pain becomes severe, or your child has trouble swallowing. Consult

the doctor as well if the sores continually crop up.

How can I prevent my child from getting canker sores?

Buy your child a soft-bristled toothbrush, and make sure he uses it at least

twice each day. Give him toothpaste that doesn't contain sodium lauryl sulfate,

a detergent that seems to promote the sores. Biotene Dry Mouth Toothpaste and

Rembrandt Natural Toothpaste are two of the brands that don't contain the

ingredient.

If your child is allergic to certain foods, make sure he avoids them. If canker

sores are a chronic problem, your pediatrician may recommend a daily

multivitamin to help boost your child's immune system.

-- Woolston, M.S., is a health and medical writer with a master's degree

in biology. He is a contributing editor at Consumer Health Interactive, and was

the staff writer at Hippocrates, a magazine for physicians. He has also covered

science issues for Time Inc. Health, WebMD, and the Chronicle of Higher

Education. His reporting on occupational health earned him an award from the

northern California Society of Professional Journalists.

Further Resources

H. Pantell M.D., F. Fries M.D., M. Vickery M.D., Taking Care

of Your Child: A Parent's Illustrated Guide to Complete Medical Care. Perseus

Books Publishing, L.L.C.: 1999.

References

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, National

Institutes of Health. NIH Publication No. 87-247: Fever Blisters and Canker

Sores.

The Self-Care Advisor: The Essential Home Health Guide for You and Your Family.

Time Life: 78-9.

Reviewed by Buchi, MD, associate professor of pediatrics, University of

Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Our reviewers are members of Consumer Health Interactive's medical advisory

board.

To learn more about our writers and editors, click here.

First published July 22, 1999

Last updated November 11, 2008

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts is an Independent Licensee of the

Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ® Registered marks of the Blue Cross and

Inc., and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts HMO Blue, Inc.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts makes this website available for the

sole purposes of providing educational information on health-related issues and

providing access to health-related resources. This website's health-related

information and resources are not intended to be a substitute for professional

medical advice or for the care that patients receive from their physicians.

Please review the Terms of Use before using this website. Your use of this

website indicates your agreement to be bound by the Terms of Use.

=====

April 7, 2009

Maureen, You did not ruin " my " day. Why would you even say that? And I was just

saying that I was not trying to put it forth rudely by using the word

" blunt " ...Appaently that made no difference because you seem to feel " defensive "

for some reason? I am not giving an opinion, I am merely correcting the

information you gave with fact. Geez..it really makes no difference to me if

anyone here wants to believe one thing over another. For me, I like to get to

the facts and the root of problems. I thougt Connie wanted to get to the root of

her child's problem quickly, and so, I gave her the answer. It is not a quick

fix, but maybe it gives her some relief " knowing " the answer.

I do not like making assumptions and I like to give correct information just as

much as I like to get thorough and correct information. I am sorry if I have

offended you in any way. It was not my intent. But the infomation I presented is

indeed factual. I am sorry if it did not line up with what you have been told by

a primary care physician. Their knowledge tends to be limited to general care of

a patient and it is not specialized.

> >

> > Maureen,

> > I hate to be so blunt,

>

April 10, 2009

WOW! Thanks to all for the info. I did look up canker sores (on webmd and

dr.mercola); also asked family dr (who said maybe that's his body's way of

dealing w/ the virus). My son typically gets them when he is ill (w/ a virus of

some sort); they last about 2 weeks. He doesn't seem to be in any pain w/ them,

but then again, it's in his mouth and has his oral motor issues. (he recently

got a tooth filled and the dentist had to hold on to his " crazy " tongue!!) BTW -

my son's virus has led to a double ear infection (we were at the ER last

night/this morning until 1:30am -poor guy; never said his ears hurt; if he

hadn't said something about hurting when he peed (yes we had his pee checked ,

totally normal) we may not have gone in to the ER).

So thanks again!

Bonnie

April 10, 2009

Viral ear infections are bad because antibiotics won't help them; the only

preven secndary bacteria infections. (Been there done that

I am glad the info everyone gave helped you.

>

> WOW! Thanks to all for the info. I did look up canker sores (on webmd and