What is a kanker sore?

some people do use canker sore over here in australia :) but you are right, its not the norm.

The proper name for it is apthous ulcer (or apthous stomatitis). There isn't really one cause of this. Many are attributed to a immune reaction of some sort. Other causes can be Vitamin b12 deficiency (or stress)

apthous ulcers / canker sores are a type of mouth ulcer. Not all mouth ulcers are apthous ulcers, but many are.

A common misconception is that canker sores are caused by a virus like herpes or some sort of infectious process. Herpes causes a different type of ulcer which first appears in a very small cluster of pimples which becomes a painful ulcer and it can occur on keratinized epithelium as well as extraorally.

There is a type of apthous ulcer that looks similar to this, but generally apthous ulcers are only found on the non attatched oral epithelium. so not on keratinized areas like the gums and hard palate.

Apthous ulcers can sometimes be associated with some systemic disorders.

2

A kanker sore is a small, painful ulcer or sore, usually of the mouth.

Kankers are actually herpes simplex 1, a virus that lies dormant until a stressor releases it. Once you get them, you always will be susceptible to getting them. They are highly contageous, as well and the mouth is very vascular increasing the chances of it spreading.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/canker-sore/DS003... hope this helps!