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Original poster

Ds2 has got a mouthful of ulcers :(

25 replies

alibobins · 26/04/2012 21:53

He's 2.4 and won't eat, won't drink, won't sleep :(
His little mouth is so so sore the doctors just said use bonjela but he is so unhappy, I am managing to get him to drink tiny amounts by spooning a bit in and he has managed half an ice lolly. He won't take his dummy so is not sleeping well and is maxed out on painkillers :(
Ant miracle ideas to help him?

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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vigglewiggle · 26/04/2012 21:54

Did the doctor rule out hand foot and mouth. When DD had it we got a different treatment to put on the ulcers?

Original poster
alibobins · 26/04/2012 21:57

Doctor said his tonsils were swollen and glands were up but no sign of infection :( He's a very sickly child but I have never seen him so unhappy :(

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RandomMess · 26/04/2012 21:59

Oh dear, the first infection of herpes gives them a horrifically sore mouth that stops them eating and drinking Sad

Abnesol may be better than bonjela?

timetosmile · 26/04/2012 22:00

also suggest googling hand foot and mouth - try nhschoices- there's loads of it about at the moment....fwiw, in toddlers the rash is sometimes only on the back of the legs/buttocks, and not hands or feet, which can be a source of confusion!

I think you can use difflam spray - but please do check with a pharmacist first as I'm not too sure.

Don't try fruit juice, it will sting. Mine liked those 'cow' milk lollies..forgotten the name, have been around for years, which were more creamy and soothing.

The best thing to come out of DC3's HF+M was that he never wanted a dummy again - result! so no long negotiations at 3yrs regarding gifts from the dummy fairy etc etc

Hope he's feeling better soon..maybe see a dr tomorrow if his fluid intake's really poor?

HereIGo · 26/04/2012 22:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

leftmysociallifeatthedoor · 26/04/2012 23:07

try googling canker sores.

ds had about 50+ bright white ulcers with a red ring round them in his mouth when he was 4, docs were useless, it was about 4 days from start to finish. I think / presume they were canker sores.

BramblyHedge · 26/04/2012 23:17

I had this a few times when I was 11 and then 18. When I was 11 they suggested herpes but never actually got to the bottom of it and i lived on lucazade and nutrition drinks for weeks. When I was 18 they said it was 'blood poisoning' whatever that means. I still remember the pain and still have no idea what it really was. Poor little thing to have it so young.

CervixWithASmile · 26/04/2012 23:24

Is he on any medication? I had this as a child and it was a delayed allergic reaction to an antibiotic I'd taken daily for over a year.

Original poster
alibobins · 27/04/2012 07:18

Thanks all after a awful night I'm going to take him back today Sad his mouth smells like dog food yuck.
His lips are all crust this morning I feel so sorry for him Sad
He's on alot of meds for asthma and allergies but has been on these since around 5 months x x

I sent dh to the chemist last night and they were useless told us to carry on with the bonjela x

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AmberLeaf · 27/04/2012 07:22

Poor thing.

My DS used to suffer terribly, actually he still does occasionally. our doctor gave us a little yellow tube of something that I cant remember the name of! it was a grainy paste that you applied to the ulcers after dabbing them dry, it sealed over them and stayed on allowing them to heal. was very good and the only thing that worked. wasnt available over the counter so ask the doctor.

I will go and google to see if I can find the name of it.

HauntedLittleLunatic · 27/04/2012 07:37

This is either hand foot and mouth or more likely a primary herpes infection (coldsores).

Your gp can treat with anti-virals if caught early but you will have to fight. It is preceeded by very high temp, and accompanied by very swollen glands esp in tummy.

If not early enough to treat with anti-virals (first 48hrs is recommended).

To help him eat and drink - try yoghurts. My Dd nearly ended up in hosp thru dehydration with this so please persevere.

Original poster
alibobins · 27/04/2012 07:50

Thanks x x have just ended up in tears trying to get him to take calpol Sad and now he won't let me near his mouth to get any fluids in Sad I went to the Gp Wednesday so hopefully we will be sorted x x

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AmberLeaf · 27/04/2012 07:55

Paracetomol suppositaries can be helpful if its painful for him to take orally.

They are not as bad as they sound!

AmberLeaf · 27/04/2012 07:55

'Magic bullets' is what my son used to call them!

vigglewiggle · 27/04/2012 08:11

Just another thought - is he on a steroid inhaler for his asthma? DD recently had a nasty dose of thrush in her mouth which looked like ulcers, it was caused by the steroids and hit when she was a bit generally run down. Worth ruling it out with the doc.

Good luck, hope he feels better soon.

Original poster
alibobins · 27/04/2012 13:05

Well good guesses he's seen the doctor and he has got the herpes infection Sad we have been given aclivor anti virals to help him not get a secondary infection. I've got to push fluids and if he still won't drink he may end up admitted Sad

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AmberLeaf · 27/04/2012 13:32

I was advised by an A&E doctor years ago to give flat lemonade [normal not diet and flattened by shaking the fizz out] its sweet so most children will drink it.

HauntedLittleLunatic · 27/04/2012 14:43

I am glad you got the acyclovir my Dd didn't and ended up really poorly - I hope you can avoid this.

I would avoid the lemonade as the acid in it will really really sting. Dairy was what worked with us as it tends to be cold and doesn't sting too much. Fluids are much more important than food (yoghurt counts towards fluids). Fruit is not great as it is usually acidic.

Original poster
alibobins · 27/04/2012 14:49

Ds is dairy free Sad I tried some jelly but he was distraught Sad the gp rang the his consultant at the hospital who advised the medicine x x

OP posts:
HauntedLittleLunatic · 27/04/2012 19:57

I am glad you got the acyclovir my Dd didn't and ended up really poorly - I hope you can avoid this.

I would avoid the lemonade as the acid in it will really really sting. Dairy was what worked with us as it tends to be cold and doesn't sting too much. Fluids are much more important than food (yoghurt counts towards fluids). Fruit is not great as it is usually acidic.

HauntedLittleLunatic · 27/04/2012 19:58

Oops sorry didn't mean to post again...

Original poster
alibobins · 28/04/2012 17:36

Ds2 is still really stuggling and in lots of pain :( Dh is off work today and is shocked at how poorly he is.
I have managed to get a bit of fluids into him and a few mouthfulls of cold porridge so better than nothing x

OP posts:
HauntedLittleLunatic · 28/04/2012 22:20

I really really sympathise. I remember how poorly dd3 and dtd1 were. It most certainly does go beyond a sore mouth.

Iirc the mouth ulcers lasted about a week.

HauntedLittleLunatic · 28/04/2012 22:48

Also be aware that if he is a thumb sucker he could transfer the infection.to his thumb, there was even a mnetter whose ds transferred the infection to his boys bits. It is highly contagious by contact particularly with broken skin and mucous membranes (eyes can be a risk). But if you are familiar with coldsores you are probably already aware of that.

FarloRigel · 28/04/2012 23:02

Lots of ice cream and ice lollies are good, especially milky ones. Milkshake with gumming agents in is quite good. If he likes fizzy drinks soda water is nice and alkaline. If he has the brown inhaler or other steroids wash his mouth out really well after each dose as the residue will make the problem worse. Corsodyl mouth wash (you can wipe it around with a sponge rather than let such a young child use it properly) is a painful but effective one, but only if you're desperate. Gengigel is good to promote healing and I have heard people recommend glutamine also.

Hope he's better soon, my DD had ulcers all the way through her digestive tract once and it was hell on earth.

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