4yo with itchy, sore tongue

[3ormorecharacters]

DD is 4 and since Saturday afternoon has been complaining of an itchy, sore tongue. It doesn't look unusual - no ulcers or red / white patches - and no other symptoms to suggest anything like HFM. It seems to be genuinely distressing her though - she's been very disturbed and restless at night and says it's because of her tongue. She also seems to be salivating more than usual, especially at night with her pillow getting very soggy.

I took her to the GP yesterday because I was a bit flummoxed by it. He had a really quick look in her mouth and said her tonsils are a bit enlarged and red so it's viral tonsillitis. This isn't quite sitting right with me though. She's very definitely pointing to the front of her tongue. Calpol / ibuprofen doesn't seem to make a difference. I'm taking her to the dentist tomorrow but does anyone else have any ideas or experience of this?

This sounds like oral thrush to me with the excess salivation and sore tongue. Can make children quite uncomfortable. Does she have any white patches on her tongue or in her mouth?

Nope, no white patches! Can you have oral thrush without them?

Sounds like thrush or maybe even an allergy?

My tongue gets very sensitive and irritated when I eat kiwi, definitely like an ‘itch I can’t scratch’ feeling. Has anything new been added to her diet? New toothpaste?

No, nothing new in her diet or toothpaste. It came on shortly after she had some watermelon so I initially put it down to that but it's gone on way longer. I think thrush is the closest fit but the lack of white patches is throwing me.