Cold sores

[Taylahsmum]

Hi, I have heard that the cold sore virus can be very dangerous to babies, even fatal.

I'd like to know more about this as I am very prone to getting cold sores.

Thanks

[Taylahsmum]

thanks aijent

Yeah i have been getting cold sores since i was a kid as well.

Zovirax is the best thing since sliced bread.

[xkwzit]

Hi TMum
I don't think it is harmful, but once you've got it, you've got it for life. I think I read somewhere that kids can be particularly vulnerable to picking it up when they are young, but not when they are older so if you can be really vigilant, you may spare your child cold sores FOR LIFE. Sorry to not have any more useful info...

Cheers

[Taylahsmum]

Thankx,

I cant remember where i heard/read that the virus could be fateful, i just wanted 2 make sure.

[M O P]

Not sure on the baby aspect, but if you develop cold sore for the first time as an adult it can be very dangerous. They really flare up and you can get huge sores that can be all over your face and make it to your eyes, this is dangerous if they are on your eyes.

[nicoleE]

I get them also occasionally.

remember to ALWAYS wash your hands after touching your face and you should also wash them before going to the toilet. If you have an active sore it can spread to your groin and become genital herpes.

If I feel one coming up I use Metho to dry it out during the day and toothpaste at night. mine generally dissapear pretty quickly. I normally only get them if my lips have been burnt. I hate them, they are horrible and embarrasing (i know thats silly but i feel like a mutant if i have one!)

[maydr]

oh, i have one at the moment but passed scabbing stage already. i think it was triggered back by being so tired over the weekend and over exposure to sun after a whole day of roaming around dreamworld.

so for now, no kissing to dd and never share any washer, spoon etc.

[poppet]

it can be fatal if ur about to give birth and have the virus active. this is what happened to me i was 39 weeks preg had active virus and had to have c section very next day:eek: as going down birth canal can cause blindness or even death. But my chubba bubba is as healthy as they come now and doesn't have virus

[Leesha]

I also get cold sores and have done since I was a child - something I can thank my mothers side of the family for! I too feel like a 'mutant' when I have them (got one right now actually) and it makes it worse because DH has never suffered from them and makes it a habit of pointing them out and making comments about how 'disgusting' they are....

I only get them when I am under alot of stress or are run down, i.e change of weather etc.

I read somewhere that if one of your parents suffers from cold sores then your child, whether they come into contact with it from you or someone else, is far more likely to suffer from them than those whose parents don't get them. Apparently because the virus is already in their system, just not active yet.

Anyway hth.

:ecomcity:

[javalava]

Edited personal info.

[mythreelittlemonkeys]

hsv I which is the coldsore virus can be transferred down below and seem to be genital herpes...equally HSV II which is an STD can be transferred to the face... most of us carry HSV I and I think alot of people carry II too...they can do tests to see which one ails you...it is very dangerous if you have an outbreak when in labour and would lead to you needing a csection...can cause complications/fatal? I not sure...

[cjb/jbvd]

i have suffered from herpes in my eye since i was five (strange place to get it, long story). i have found that FAMVIR is the best possible treatment available. like everyone else, i used to get them when i was really run down, emotionally stressed or in really yucky surroundings. i averaged about three attacks a year. my female doctor put me on to the drug in early 1998 when i joined the army. i have been in all kinds of unhygenic conditions and alot of differrent stresses since then (including six months in the soloman islands), and i have only had three break outs in 8 years. i didn't even get one break out when i was pregant, nor since my DS was born. i can totally recommend this product to everyone.

as for giving it to my DS, the usual precautions of hand washing (there are really good anto bacterial hand washes available), and no direct contact will be the practice if i break out. i also found that a handy supply of alcohol swipes (the first aid kit kind) were a very useful thing to have around for the itching (they fit into your handbag really well), one swipe and it stops the itch really well.

hope that helps.

[~Emmylou~]

Is this true for cold sores or genital herpes? I know you can spread the virus to your genitals where it becomes complex but never heard of a cold sore compromising birth. Learn something new all the time huh. Just for interest too, the virus when not active actually lodges at the base of the cranium or upper spinal column.

Zovirax is a nasty concoction but use in very small quanties and only on the tingling site and the cold sore never appears. MIL tried some meds that supposedly got rid of it forever but they didn't work.
I too felt like a "mutant" or dirty when I got them and wouldn't leave the house.
Had a very nasty one many, many years ago under my nose and across my lips from having a cold, and it was my sisters bridal shower. A friend did a brilliant theatrical cover up makeup job on it for me cause I just wouldn't have gone otherwise and risked upsetting my sister for ever.

I thought this was only the case for genital herpes as well. Many people get coldsores and gen herpes confused believing they are the same thing. They are not, they are two different strains of the same virus.
I've been getting them all my life, I have one now actually :(
Zovirax is useless for me.

[nicoleE]

i have suffered from herpes in my eye since i was five (strange place to get it, long story)

actually i dontt hink getting them in the eye area is that uncommen. I only ever get them on my lips but my father gets them either on his lip, or just outside his lip on his face and has had them near his eye. I do remember being told when i was younger not to touch my eyes if i had a cold sore.

[squiglet]

thanks aijent

Yeah i have been getting cold sores since i was a kid as well.

Zovirax is the best thing since sliced bread.

I also have a cold sore that pops up every now and then. Usuly just befor I get the flu or am on Holidays. I got one on my honeymoon!! Mine is just ubove my upper lip under my nose.

My friends use Zovirax and swear by it to. But it dosn't work for me!
I find it makes them bigger.
The only thing I find that kills the nasty thing is Metho. I keep a cotton wool bud soked with a bit of metho and dab it on now and again. I think it just dries it out so much it dies.

So I swear by that remedy.

[Megansmum]

I too have also suffered cold sores from child age. :( I found that no cream worked for me. I have always taken a tablet called L-lisyne (spelling?) and it has pretty well worked for me. The only time I had a cold sore was when DD was about 3 weeks old and I had a very severe case of Mastitis for which I had to be hospitalised. Actually the cold sore was an indication that something else was wrong, it had been a long time since I had had one.

The tablets can be bought at any good pharmacy, though just becareful taking it as it can interfere with any contraception you may be taking. L-lisyne is a cell protein, that is also good for hair and nails.

Hope this offers another option for you.

Sarah-Jane:smiliedance: