Question:
Does someone know the details about canker sores and cold sores?
I understand that the first is a bacteria while the second is from a
virus. What are the symptoms? Can one differentiate? I have been given
conflicting information such as canker sores only occur inside the mouth
while cold sores occur outside; cold sores always have a head with pus
while canker sores can be on the lips and just cause minor swelling and
redness. How do they affect toddlers? Are canker sores very contagious?
Our 'baby info book' has lots on cold sores but nothing on canker sores.
Answer:
I know a little, but not about the cause. I have gotten canker sores from
childhood to the present and only recently got actual cold sores. I believe
they are a completely different virus.
A friend of mine shared an old-country remedy with me a few months ago
that has worked for me in arresting the symptoms of both a cold sore-to-be and
a canker-sore-from-hell-to-be. Please be aware that I am NOT recommending that
you use this on yourself OR your child ... I'm just relating that it has
worked for me.
Cold sore: You have to catch it when you first feel that tingle and start
to see the little blisters, or even before if you can as soon as possible,
take a piece of cotton or gauze, soak it in vodka, and
apply it to the affected area until you feel a little sting. Keep doing this
until either you can't stand it anymore, the vodka is gone, or your lip
is in a stupor. If the cold sore insists on progressing, clean it with
vodka.
Canker sore: When that first little red blister-like lesion appears
that later opens to a full canker beastie, do the vodka-soak thing. It
hurts but there is a real good chance that the canker sore will cease.
It worked for me like nothing else ever has
