Canker sores (mouth sores) in young children are dangerous?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted with Master, Doctor Vu Quoc Anh - Pediatrician - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital.
Canker sores in the mouth of children are rare in infants and children under 10 years of age. Canker sores are not serious and dangerous, but canker sores in children can make it uncomfortable for children to eat or drink or accidentally touch the sores.

1. What is canker sores in the mouth?

Canker sores in the mouth, also known as mouth sores, are a rare disease in young children. Canker sores are open, round, white or yellow sores surrounded by a red halo. The location of the sores is usually on the lips, cheeks, on the tongue, gums and roof of the mouth. The sores may be clustered or located individually.

2. Causes of canker sores in children

Until now, the cause of canker sores in children's mouth is still unknown. However, the following factors are thought to trigger the disease:
Heredity: Family history of mouth sores. Stress: In older children, mouth sores can appear when the child is stressed. Trauma: Accidental biting on the tongue or the inside of the cheek, or dental procedures can cause open sores in the mouth. In addition, there are other causes such as: Viral infections, food allergies or poor nutrition, lack of substances (iron, folic acid, zinc, vitamin B12) can cause ulcers in the mouth.

3. Distinguishing canker sores from herpes

It is important to distinguish between canker sores in the mouth of children and herpes.
Canker sores: Mouth sores are not contagious and appear on the soft tissues of the mouth. Cold sores: Cold sores are contagious (caused by the herpes simplex virus) and usually appear on the outside of the lips.

4. Treatment of canker sores in the mouth of children

Canker sores are not serious and pose no danger, except for discomfort from eating or accidentally touching them. The sores will gradually heal on their own after about 7-10 days, but it can take longer. After 3 to 4 days, the pain caused by the ulcer usually subsides.
While waiting for a canker sore in the child's mouth to heal on its own, parents can do the following to make the child more comfortable:
Cool the painful area with ice. Cold foods also help ease the sore area. Avoid giving your child hot, spicy, or sour foods (such as oranges and tangerines) that can make your child's mouth worse. Apply teething gel or cream gently to the sore spot caused by a painful sore. Treatment of canker sores in the mouth of children at home, can use tampons soaked in hydrogen peroxide and water to gently dab on the sores. Then, use a tampon to dab some milk of magnesium on the sore. Doing it 3-4 times a day will help soothe the wound and heal faster. If a child's canker sores are bothersome, parents should contact the doctor to ask about giving the child an appropriate over-the-counter pain reliever (such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen) in the appropriate dose. Do not give aspirin to children on their own, as it can cause a rare and dangerous disease called Reye's syndrome in children with viral illnesses.)

5. When should children with canker sores go to the doctor?

If you are not sure if your child has a canker sore or another disease, or if the ulcer persists for several weeks, parents need to take the child to the doctor for a prompt examination.
When seeing the doctor, parents should report other symptoms if present to the doctor such as fever, rash, swollen lymph nodes or fever, or the child is unable to drink due to uncomfortable sores. If a child has frequent mouth sores, parents should also inform the doctor about this condition.
It is necessary to distinguish canker sores in the mouth of children from herpes. In addition to mouth ulcers, if the child is accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, rash, swollen lymph nodes, parents should take the child to see a doctor soon.
Vinmec International General Hospital is the address for receiving and examining respiratory diseases that infants and young children are susceptible to: viral fever, bacterial fever, respiratory infection, pneumonia in children, .... With modern equipment, sterile space, minimizing the impact as well as the risk of disease spread. Along with that is the dedication from the doctors with professional experience with pediatric patients, making the examination no longer a concern of the parents.
Customers can directly go to Vinmec Health system nationwide to visit or contact the hotline for support.

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Reference source: babycenter.com