Herpes & babies/children

[MooandMoo2]

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[Benji]

Oh dear lord... well I get coldsores, does this mean I can never kiss my own babies? :crying:

[sam's mum]

Angike - it isn't that you can never kiss them, you just have to be very very careful when and where.

I don't kiss my kids at all if I have any tingling sensations or an outbreak.

[MamaKoala]

I'm the same as Sam's mum. If I'm having an outbreak I don't kiss anyone. If I even think I am getting a sore I wont kiss anyone. I was very conscious of it when I had my boys because I researched the subject too. Very scary, so I never risked it.
I made sure EVERYONE knew about it so that if they did have sores, they wouldn't touch my kids.

[Harlequin]

Thing with herpes is that most people have it, it's just that the majority of people have never had an actual coldsore so they don't know they have it.

I remember posting a herpes news story on here a while back, it may have been the same lady. She had her first active outbreak when the baby was born, so the baby hadn't built up any natural immunity to the virus.

I would never play with a baby while I had a coldsore, that's just irresponsible, but I also wouldn't want anyone kissing my baby on the face because they could have the virus and not realise it.

Here is the old thread if you wanna read it:
http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/showthread.php?t=216663

[OJandMe]

I have a hard time with this. My MIL gets cold sores and I am ADAMANT that she doesn't kiss the kids when she's got them... but both her and DH think I'm being OTT.

She HONESTLY thinks she caught them when she was a child because she used the same hanky to wipe her mouth after wiping her nose. :eek:

I gave her a whole print out about the herpes simplex virus and how it's so important to be so careful around babies and children with it...

But I don't know if she even took me seriously.

Even DH says : "SO what? I'm supposed to tell her she can't kiss her own grandchildren?! I can't do that."

Makes me SO ANGRY :mad: Thankfully she hasn't had an outbreak that coincides with a visit.

[Harlequin]

Geez. Print out the story about the baby dying and show it to your dh, OJ.

I think herpes is mainly a problem when the baby has had no contact with it.
I think if you are a carrier and you have a baby then it's less likely to be a problem because the baby will have some immunities to the virus.

I could be wrong, it was a while ago that I looked into it. There is some interesting info in the old thread tho.

People just need to be aware that most of the population has the virus, you don't have to have had coldsores to have it.

Edit: Actually I think I have it wrong. I think it's when you are a carrier but haven't had an active outbreak that it's more dangerous to the baby. Whereas if you do get coldsores occasionally and have a baby then the baby will have immunities to the virus. Or something. It's very confusing lol.

[Mrs Molly Coddle]

Not that I think a full-blown panic is in order, but yes indeed you do need to be careful. A friend of my Mum's kissed her niece on the eye when she had a coldsore, and her neice ended up blind in that eye.
Just be sensible about when and where you kiss your children if you know you have an infection

[Mamalicious]

That's so scary! My Mum and her partner get coldsores, I freak out about it!!! :barf:

[Harlequin]

its all so scary.... DH and my self do not have the virus and we were told that our children are more at risk as they have no immunity :no:

*nods*
I'm not as worried because I have had coldsores so my babies will have immunities to the virus. I would still smack anyone upside the head who tried to kiss her during an active outbreak though.

I think if you havent had a coldsore but get one after your baby is born you need to be very very careful.
And obviously stop other people kissing your bubs face - which they shouldn't really be doing anyway.

[JohnC]

Applicable for Jewish mothers, relating to the transmission of herpes during the traditional bris ceremony.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/std/std-bris.shtml

I am not aware of any case reports from Australia, but the risk here would be no different to New York for those undergoing the orthodox bris ceremony.

[SPC]

I've looked after 2 babies who died of systemic herpes, it's incredibly difficult to treat but unusual as most newborns have passive immunity from their mums. Which is why I had myself tested for immunity when I was pregnant, and was horrified to learn that I'm not immune. Up to 80% of the population have type 1 herpes, usually it's caught when you're a child. So I had to be extra careful during pregnancy and I was very careful with Esme when she was tiny. But now I'd rather she did catch it as it provides some protection against type 2 herpes and would save her this worry.

[beebs]

Although mouth ulcers are a little different the Dr did tell me that it was in the same group as cold sores - its still herpes. Anyhow - my son contracted mouth ulcers and ended up in hopsy when he was 12 months old. He wouldn't eat or drink a thing for days at a time...the dr said that the pain would be exrutiating for him. Also when he tried to have a bottle - blood would just pour out of his mouth. It was really scary. i had no idea little ones reacted to herpes like this until it happened to my little one.

[Fuchsia!]

WOw i seriously never had any idea how dangerous it could be!!

Thanks for telling me. Im very careful anyway, no one is allowed to kiss the kids on the lips anyway and i limit kissing to just immediate family.

[OneBabyBoy]

WOw i seriously never had any idea how dangerous it could be!!



Yeah me either, very interesting. I've never had a coldsore. I will definitely keep this is mind from now on. Thank you for making me aware.

[bAaM]

I have a coldsore right now, for some reason i only ever get them when i am pregnent:confused:

I did hear about that baby, but didnt realise HOW serious it is. I dont EVER kiss anyone when i have one or think i am getting one.

And the only kids i kiss are my own and my godson. I wouldnt dream of kissing other ppls kids on the lips, and i would flip out if anyone but very close family and godparent kiss my children on the face.

[FiveInTheBed]

Thanks Flick81...I have always been aware of avoiding contact with people ESPECIALLY babies and children when I have a coldsore.

No kissing, and ALWAYS wash hands, make sure no one drinks from my drink (as kids sometimes do). I even get a bit stand offish (like don't come too close) whe I have one.

I never had one until I was in my early 20s ...did a course that involved getting a 'make over' and the silly woman used the same make up brush on about five of us...I had a break out that covered my chin, forehead and very close to my eyes - SO horrible!!

Coldsores aren't "disgusting' or 'sex related' like some people think (because of the 'herpes' thing)...they can be brought on by stress, the sun, run down health, certain foods etc etc...But they definitely ARE NOT good for young ones!!
- Don't be afraid to tell people not to kiss your new babies. They can wait until it clears up - shouldn't take any longer than a week.

[Issey]

I can't believe someone with a coldsore would be so damn inconsiderate :banghead:

I get coldsores (thanks to getting the virus from my mum).

When I get them I am so careful, washing my hands all the time, using separate towel for my face only. Not let anyone near me, plus you feel yucky and ugly when you have them. My ex DH gets them too and I have drummed it in his head over the years about hygiene when you have an outbreak.

I really don't want my son to get it. I did have an outbreak or two when he was really small. I scrubed my hands before and after every nappy change and would make sure that my skin didn't contact his skin in that particular area.

Unfortunately it is easy to contract from careless people touching their mouth and then a door knob or something and there are plenty of careless people about.

[Issey]

also i think it is a bit overboard if you don't let anyone touch your baby who hasn't got an outbreak of course.

you can't protect your child from everything and once your child is crawling etc it is everything in their mouth etc so someone holding your child and panicking about it isn't the answer it is paranoia.

[Harlequin]

Your son probably already has it Debster.

I don't go overboard with handwashing when I have a coldsore... but then I don't touch the thing unless im putting zovirax on it. Touching it just makes it worse.

I find it odd that there is such a stigma attached to people who have coldsores when the people who find it so dirty probably have the virus themselves and don't even realise it.

baam, hopefully your baby has some immunity to it since you have a coldsore.

[Lilahh]

I get coldsores, usually 2 or 3 a year when Im stressed and run down. I haven't had one since being pregnant though. Im really going to be aware when I have a newborn of being careful. But also, I think the risk of serious illness/death from HSV decreases as babies get older and develop better immune systems.

My Dad gave them to my older sister and I by kissing us when we were around 2 or 3 years old. My little sister never got them, I think because he was more careful with her. So I think you need to be super super careful when bubs are young, but its less of serious problem as they get older.
:ecomcity:

[flick82]

I got my first coldsore at 9mths when my nan saw me for the first time and kissed me. my mum wasnt to impressed after having them for years she knew how horrible they feel.having some immunity from mum, she said my first one wasnt that bad for me but she had a hard time trying to make sure it didnt spread, cant stop a 9mth old touching its face. I now yell at anyone, even mum does to if someone tries to kiss my kids with a coldsore.

[netmum]

Hi I'm new to this forum. I have just delivered my first long awaited child... and I developed ulcers on my genitals days later... and after a swab test i was tested positive for HSV-2.

I'm very depressed now because I am fearful of haveing passed it on to my baby. I'm having her tested tomorrow but more so.. I am worried that I will pass it to her if she hasnt have it yet.

Can any mummy tell me what to do? How can I prevent from passing it on to her. Herpes is not common in the country i live in now.. and even my gynae doesnt seem to be able to educate me properly on herpes.

I really need help because it I dont really dare to touch or kiss my newborn as i know herpes is highly contagious. It hurts a lot because Ive waited very long to have this baby and I;ve had repeated miscarriage.

Pls tell me more about herpes and what lifestyle i should be leading now.Many thanks!

[mummytobe107]

My inlaw's niece had cold sore when she was in child care centre apparently either the carers or other child gave it to her. Her mother is so angry, but she cannot do anything since she doesn't know the culprit. Any ideas ?

2 thumbs up for Flick81 for raising this awareness. Never thought HSV is quite common.

oh by the way how to say to people esp close friend and relative politely not to kiss my baby in the lips. One of my aunty did that, I was just too shocked to stop it. Who will kiss babies in the lips, except for the parent, anyway. grrr

[SPC]

Netmum - have a look at USA websites - it's incredibly common there, [one in six women has HSV2], so they have loads of information on it. As the virus is genital on you it won't affect how you care for your baby at all, so long as you wash our hands. If you contracted the virus in the third trimester it might be a problem, but if you had it before then your baby will have passive immunity from you and shouldn't get sick. The only time babies are really at high risk is if their mum contracts the virus just before giving birth and the baby doesn't have a chance to pick up immunity from her mum, or if neither of them is immune and somebody else gives it to them after they are born.

[SPC]

My inlaw's niece had cold sore when she was in child care centre apparently either the carers or other child gave it to her. Her mother is so angry, but she cannot do anything since she doesn't know the culprit. Any ideas ?

2 thumbs up for Flick81 for raising this awareness. Never thought HSV is quite common.

oh by the way how to say to people esp close friend and relative politely not to kiss my baby in the lips. One of my aunty did that, I was just too shocked to stop it. Who will kiss babies in the lips, except for the parent, anyway. grrr


"Oral herpes is easily transmitted, and is the most common form of the herpes simplex virus. Oral herpes affects people of all ages, races, and social groups. The highest incidence of initial infection occurs in children between six months and three years of age. By adolescence, 62% of Americans have been infected with herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1). Serum antibodies to HSV-1 can be found in up to 90% of Americans."
http://dentalresource.org/topic52herpes.htm

I was so surprised that I'm not immune to HSV1! It's not like I've lived like a saint all these years...:o

[netmum]

Netmum - have a look at USA websites - it's incredibly common there, [one in six women has HSV2], so they have loads of information on it. As the virus is genital on you it won't affect how you care for your baby at all, so long as you wash our hands. If you contracted the virus in the third trimester it might be a problem, but if you had it before then your baby will have passive immunity from you and shouldn't get sick. The only time babies are really at high risk is if their mum contracts the virus just before giving birth and the baby doesn't have a chance to pick up immunity from her mum, or if neither of them is immune and somebody else gives it to them after they are born.

thanks fr the info.. i really dunno whn i contracted it... but the ulcers developed days affter i delivered.. i've sent my bb for herpes check now waitingf fr results. is breastfeeding ok?

[guerin]

My mum suffers from cold sores and when my DD was born I just told her not to kiss her on the lips because I didn't want her passing on the virus.

Hate to say this, but it wasn't because I heard the virus could kill babies but because who would want to risk passing on the cold sores virus to anyone.

It's usually, as far as I have seen, a life long affliction that can give you awful sores. Why would anyone want to risk passing that on to their child, grandchild etc even taking away the deadly side?

I can't believe anyone with a coldsore or who can feel the tingling sensation of a cold sore coming on would kiss anyone on or near the lips. Sorry but there are somethings you should share and somethings that you shouldn't share.

[SPC]

thanks fr the info.. i really dunno whn i contracted it... but the ulcers developed days affter i delivered.. i've sent my bb for herpes check now waitingf fr results. is breastfeeding ok?

If anything breastfeeding should help, because it would pass on immunity whilst you are feeding. I can't think of any reason why you shouldn't breastfeed.