Since my teens I randomly develop these open sores in the back of my throat, sometimes there are 1 or 2 large sores (almost like a dime size) and sometimes a few small ones. Usually I will get them before an upper respitory infection, or the flu, but sometimes they appear when i'm perfectly healthy, and go away by themselves. The larger ones are painful and the surrounding area turns bright red and gets a little swollen, sometimes it's hard to swallow, but i'm always able to eat, just not spicy or cirtrus foods at the time. They will last from 5 days to 2 weeks, depending on size and if any more develop after the original goes away. I have seen a pediatrician many times when I had them (that was 2 years ago), and he said it was (spelling? kak-a-sacke) In other words they look like large canker sores. When I have them I never had strep throat. What do you think they are, and what could I put on them to make them heal faster if I have them?