Bumpy painful tongue?

[Aranea]

Dd2 (3) has been v sorry for herself and unable to eat today because her tongue hurts. It's got lots of little raised bumps (swollen taste buds?) on the front half, but the back of her tongue looks OK.

She's fine in all other respects and I have tried calpol and piriton, neither of which have helped.

Has anyone had similar? I've never seen this before - her tongue looks horrid, a bit like the bumps on a toad!

BTW I called NHS direct 7 hours ago but they haven't phoned me back yet.

There was a virus going around our way before Xmas where one of the symptoms was a painful tongue. I got it twice, so did my H and some of the people I worked with.

I bought an oral thrush gel over the counter from Boots (not sure if children can use it but worth a try) and that sorted it out quickly

Oh really? Did it make your tongue look bumpy too? How long did it last?

Yes my tongue felt and looked bumpy, like it had been badly burned. It was really really sore, even eating soft bread killed.

It lasted a couple of weeks then I started the oral gel and that cleared it up pretty quickly

Oh, maybe it is the same thing then. She couldn't manage mashed potato this evening. I hope it doesn't last a fortnight, she told me she'll never eat again!

The gel is called DAKTARIN and its ok for children 6+

Thanks. I guess I'd better take her to the doctor on Monday then as she's only 3.

Google hand foot and mouth disease, and see if that looks similar. It's nothing to do with the foot and mouth disease that cows get. My little ones have had it before - it's quite contagious among toddlers but not usually dangerous. Ulcers can be on the palms and soles of feet as well as in the mouth. So it might be that.

Either way it sounds like ice-cream and a trip to the drs on Monday!

Hope she recovers soon.

Thanks mrsbutty - I don't think it is hand foot & mouth as it is only on her tongue, nowhere else at all.

I've tried daktarin gel on her now but she was only prepared to let me do it once! She's been in a filthy mood so I think she is probably feeling a bit unwell too. I'll call the doc in the morning - I really hope they can help as I don't know how much more grumpy 3yo I can take!

Aramea - ds2 keeps getting that too and drools lots with it.

Meant to add he's just 4 and dr thought virus. Had it first in Christmas break I think or early December. Poor boy, he would have ice lollies, yoghurts etc

Keeps getting it? Poor boy, how miserable. I think it must be a virus. My dd seems to get worse as the day goes on and has refused to eat any supper at all for the last two days. Even ice cream gets rejected .

I had a virus that made my tongue go all bumpy. I had ulcers on the side and it hurt to talk. I was extremely fed up and I really feel for your dd. It felt just like a massive case of tongue burn and it was utterly rubbish. The doctor sent me away because it was viral.
I found that...
Ice cream was amazing.
Hot food was really sore.
Curry was the work of the devil.

I lived on ice cream for a week. Hopefully that will make your dd a little happier. Oh, and sucking ice cubes really helped too. It went away on it's own after about two weeks.
Hope that helps, and I hope your dd likes ice cream!

Thanks grumpycat. God I hope it doesn't last that long. When she's really bothered by it she won't have anything at all, even ice cream or water. And she is soooo grumpy...