Has your child ever had a painful bump on the inside of their mouth?
You’ve been told they were mouth ulcers, only for someone else to tell you that they’re in fact cold sores.
We sat down with Pharmacist Nazatul Amira Hamzah from Primabumi Sdn Bhd to learn more about how parents can tell the difference between mouth ulcers and cold sores when your child gets them.
Nazatul is a qualified pharmacist with 10 years of experience in pharmacy practice involving both hospital and community settings.
She currently holds the position of Pharmacist and Key Account Manager at a renowned pharmaceutical company in Kuala Lumpur.
Here’s a pharmacist’s take on the mouth ulcer versus cold sore debate.
Question 1: How do I differentiate between mouth ulcers and cold sores?
While often similar in appearance, mouth ulcers and cold sores differ a lot in terms of symptoms.
Mouth ulcers, also known aphthous ulcers or canker sores, are small, painful, and shallow.
They typically can be found on the inner lips, inner cheeks, gums, or tongue.
They often appear creamy white in colour, and may occur as a single ulcer or in a cluster.
Cold sores, or fever blisters, on the other hand, are tiny, excruciating blisters that can appear around the mouth, face, or nose.
They are filled with liquid, and often crust over and become a scab before disappearing.
Both mouth ulcers and cold sores can cause significant pain and discomfort for your child.
Often preventing them from eating and drinking properly.
Question 2: What are the possible factors contributing to mouth ulcers and cold sores?
Mouth ulcers can be caused by a number of things.
First is a a weakened immune system. Which can be brought on by stress, infections, underlying illnesses, reactions to certain medications, or even vitamin deficiencies.
Second, any kind of mouth injury, including those caused by accidentally biting their lips or by consuming coarse, hot, or spicy foods.
This is different from cold sores which are caused by a virus known as the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Type 1.
Unlike mouth ulcers, cold sores are infectious.
Your child can get them through kissing, sharing cups, glasses, or cutlery, sharing washcloths or towels, or even just touching a person with cold sores.
The virus can infect people 24 to 48 hours before any symptom appears.
Question 3: Are cold sores and mouth ulcers dangerous or infectious?
Mouth ulcers are pretty common in both children and adults and are often harmless and non-infectious.
On the other hand, cold sores are highly contagious and can be life-threatening, particularly in young infants.
Both mouth ulcers and cold sores may cause significant pain and discomfort for your child, preventing them from eating and drinking properly.
Question 4: What should I do to prevent the cold sore virus from infecting myself and others?
There are several recommended approaches to help prevent contracting the cold sore virus or spreading it to other people.
First, keep your child’s towels, washcloths, drinking glasses, and eating utensils away from other family members’.
Make sure to give them a thorough wash after each usage.
Second, do not allow your child to kiss others or touch the cold sore until it heals.
Third, make sure your child and yourself wash your hands properly and frequently, especially after touching a cold sore.
Fourth, to avoid a serious eye infection from HSV, do not let your child touch their eyes.
Question 5: How long do mouth ulcers and cold sores normally last?
Mouth ulcers usually go away within a week, while cold sores often last about a week or two.
Question 6: When should I bring my child to a doctor?
If your child has a cold sore, it’s important to seek immediate medical attention if:
- they are younger than 6 months old
- their symptoms do not go away after 2 weeks
- they suffer from mouth ulcers or cold sores often
- they have multiple ulcers (this could be a sign of hand-foot-mouth disease or oral thrush/yeast infection)
- they have many sores near the eyes or has irritation of the eyes
Question 7: What are the treatments available for mouth ulcers and cold sores?
Since mouth ulcers normally go away on their own, there is no specific treatment required.
You may, however, get your child some simple medications to help ease the pain they experience.
Topical gels for fast relief of pain caused by teething and mouth ulcers.
For cold sores however, the most commonly used treatment an antiviral medicine.
Apply a thin film of the cream 5 times daily at approximately 4 hourly intervals (omitting the nighttime application) for 5 days.
You must continue applying the cream for 3 days after the cold sore is gone.
If your child is under 12 years old, your doctor may prescribe acyclovir liquid suspension.
If your child is suffering from too much pain, you may give them an oral painkiller such as paracetamol or ibuprofen suspension.
Please consult your pharmacist on the most appropriate medication for your child and the correct way of administration.
Question 8: What are other steps I can take to ease my child’s symptoms?
Encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids to maintain a good hydration level.
Give them child cool foods and drinks to enjoy as well.
If your child’s mouth is too sore, offer them a straw for drinking.
Avoid serving them rough or spicy foods which may aggravate their symptoms.
When brushing teeth, be sure to provide a soft toothbrush.
Finally, get your child to rinse their mouth with saltwater and/or an antiseptic mouthwash to help reduce the pain and risk of infection.
Mouthwash products that contain chlorhexidine is a great option for mouth ulcers and cold sores.
They can be purchased at most retail pharmacies.
Question 9: Can my child get mouth ulcers or cold sores again in the future?
Your child may get mouth ulcers again if exposed to one or more of the possible triggers (refer to Question 2)
For cold sore, it is highly likely that your child could experience them again in the future.
However, the symptoms may not be as serious.
HSV lingers in your child’s body after the first infection and lies dormant for many years.
The virus can be reactivated by any of these factors:
- sunlight
- cold weather
- stress
- fever
- other infections
Question 10: What can I do to help prevent the risks of mouth ulcers and cold sores in my kids?
First, help your child build a good immune system by encouraging them to drink lots of water and eat a healthy, well-balanced diet.
Secondly, mouth ulcers that keep coming back may result from a lack of certain vitamins.
Namely, iron and B vitamins.
Therefore, you should try increasing your child’s intake of foods that are rich in iron and B vitamins.
You may also consider giving your child a dietary supplement to address this nutrient deficiency.
Speak to your healthcare professional about the most suitable health supplement for your child.
Third, make sure your child maintains good oral hygiene.
Finally, limit your child’s exposure to sunlight and extreme weather.
Source: Nazatul Amira Hamzah, Pharmacist at Primabumi Sdn Bhd
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice from Motherhood. For any health-related concerns, it is advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or medical practitioner.
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