When to Seek Medical Care

When to call the doctor

• Because the sores are painful, you may have difficulty eating or drinking. To prevent dehydration, call your doctor as soon as you cannot eat or drink.
  
  
• Call your doctor immediately if any of these symptoms, which suggest dehydration, occur:
  
  
  • A decrease in urination (fewer wet diapers in infants)
    
    
  • Drowsiness
    
    
  • Irritability
    
    
  • Dry mouth
  
  
• Call your doctor if you or your children are not sure what the sores are.
  
  
• If your child is younger than 6 weeks, notify your doctor when sores appear. Severe infection or disease complications occur more commonly in infants. For instance, besides affecting the mouth, the herpes simplex virus may go to the brain and produce damage.
  
  
• People whose immune systems are weakened should also call their doctor when sores appear. Your immune system protects you from infection or fights infection. If your system is weakened, you are more likely to have severe infection or disease complication.

Signs and symptoms of dehydration may warrant going to a hospital's emergency department.