3 year old with very painful tongue

[WinkyWinkola]

DD had little white blisters on her tongue and it was clearly bothering her. She's 20 months.

Then DS developed the same little blisters. They've nearly gone now but he's left with white stuff in the middle of his tongue and he says it hurts to eat. I don't know it's burning or stinging or what - I can't get that differentiation from a 3 year old.

Any ideas what it could be? We're away from home at the moment so away from GP. I don't think it's an A&E job because he's bright and perky unless he's having a meal or a drink.

Someone said hand, foot and mouth disease? But it seems to be his tongue that's affected. Poor lad.

Thrush?

herpes ie the first attack thereafter would just get coldsores

or hand foot & mouth

I would google these 2 things and see if the spots match either?

My son had this at 12 months, it was thrush. It got worse and worse until we managed to get a GP to treat it, then it cleared up in a day!!

Well, DS has already had a cold sore, courtesy of me and my herpes simplex so I don't think it's herpes.

Would thrush really hurt him so much? He says his tongue is very sore.....

And would a pharmacist be able to diagnose it and dispense treatment? We're away from home right now, you see.

And it's strange that both DCs have had these spots if it's thrush?

I would say hand foot and mouth. It can sometimes just infect the tongue, or just the hands, or just the feet for example.

So does hand foot and mouth need treatment? HOw long does it last for?

Give them ice lollies and ice cream to eat, and calpol for the pain.

It lasts for a few days. It doesn't require treatment as such, just pain killers.

teething gel might help.

Thank you very much for your help.