Tongue Pimples

I've been having several canker sores and bumps on my tongue, should I worry?

I'm not sexually active but I did get a tattoo six months ago and I'm scared I may have contacted some sort of disease through it. As of now I have three canker sores and a small bump to the side of my tongue that is mildly swelled. I'm seeing a doctor on Wed, after many months of repeated canker sores...but I'd like to know if any one has any idea of what this may be. I'm worried, please serious answers only.

Public Comments

1. definatley see your doctor, but if you look up canker sores on the internet, you will find that there are several causes...including stress or trauma to the body. Do some research so you know what the doctor might be diagnosing.
2. It sounds like a herpes virus...the bump does not quite fit the usual symptomology. HSV-1 is the one I am thinking of (oral/which is not usually preventable). Any fevers....body aches, joint pain, swollen lymph nodes etc recently? Sores anywhere else? Also, if you had an existing dormant virus.....tattooing is stressful to the body and provokes an immune response related to the tissue injury. If indeed this is a herpes virus it may have been triggered during the immune response to your tattoo. It is possible you have had a herpes virus since you were young. There are a couple of conditions that are characterized by recurring"canker sores": Herpetic Gingivostomatitis and Chronic Recurrent Aphthae. We could be seeing Zebras where there are none, could be something very simple. DermIS is a website where you can find photos that might help.