What Are Possible Complications Of Cold Sores In A Child
In most children, cold sores dont cause serious illness. In some cases, the herpes simplex virus can cause inflammation of the brain . This is a serious illness and needs to be treated right away. It can lead to long-term problems of the brain.
Cold sores in a newborn baby can cause serious illness and death. This may be the case even when treated with medicine.
How Is It Diagnosed
You should see a doctor or other healthcare provider if you suspect youve contracted herpes.
A healthcare provider can usually diagnose herpes with a physical exam and one or more of the following tests:
- a viral culture, which involves scraping off a sample of the sore for examination in a lab
- a polymerase chain reaction test, which compares a sample of your blood and from a sore to determine which type of HSV you have
- a blood test to check for HSV antibodies from a past herpes infection
Treatments Your Physician May Prescribe
Your childs doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication to speed recovery of the sores. Acyclovir is the only antiviral medication that is available as a liquid and that is approved for use in infants.Anesthetic mouthwashes or pain medication may also be given to reduce pain. If your child is unable to eat or drink because of mouth sores, he or she is at risk of becoming dehydrated. If this occurs, your doctor may recommend that your child receive IV fluids.
Recommended Reading: What Is The Difference Between Hpv And Herpes
How Are Cold Sores Treated
Unfortunately, once youve contracted HSV-1, there is no way to get rid of the virus. But you can do a few things to help you manage the symptoms.
Antiviral medication, either in the pill or cream form, is typically the quickest way to heal a cold sore. Over-the-counter treatments, such as Abreva®, can be effective for cold sores that are not severe. If the infection is a severe one, your doctor can prescribe an antiviral medication or give you an injection to alleviate the symptoms.
To keep redness and swelling to a minimum, apply a cold compress to the affected area.
Ruling Out Conditions That Resemble Oral Herpes
Canker Sores
Simple canker sores are often confused with the cold sores of HSV-1. Canker sores frequently crop up singly or in groups on the inside of the mouth, or on or underneath the tongue. Their cause is unknown, and they are common in perfectly healthy people. They are usually white or grayish crater-like ulcers with a sharp edge and a red rim. They usually heal within 2 weeks without treatment.
This aphthous ulcer is located in front of and just below the bottom teeth.
Thrush
Oral candidiasis is a yeast infection that causes a whitish overgrowth in the mouth. It is most common in infants, but can appear in people of all ages, particularly people taking antibiotics or those with impaired immune systems.
Other conditions that may be confused with oral herpes include herpangina , sore throat caused by strep or other bacteria, and infectious mononucleosis.
You May Like: How To Date With Herpes 1
Which Shingles Vaccine Is Best
Eventually, your doctor will start mentioning the shingles vaccine which can help prevent shingles from developing, as well as reduce its severity if it does still develop. The shingles vaccine can also reduce your risk of postherpetic neuralgia, one of the most common complications of shingles.
Because shingles becomes increasingly more common as a person ages, the shingles vaccine is currently recommended for people over the age of 50. There are two vaccine options, Shingrix and Zostavax, with Shingrix being the newer of the two vaccines and the preferred choice as it is more effective.
When it comes to how the shingles vaccine works, Shingrix is a shot that requires two doses administered six months apart. There are temporary side of effects of this shingles vaccine that can be unpleasant, however. Shingles vaccine side effects typically dont last more than three days, but include:
Is It Safe To Breastfeed If I Have Genital Herpes
Yes as long as there isnt an open lesion on your chest or breast. If you have an active outbreak while breastfeeding, its possible to spread the infection to your nipples through touch. Careful hand-washing can prevent this spread. You shouldnt nurse from a breast that has herpes sores. You can pump breast milk until the sores heal. Dont give your baby expressed breast milk if the pump comes into contact with an open sore.
Read Also: How To Clean Genital Herpes
How Long Can Herpes Go Undetected
Once youve contracted HSV, there will be an incubation period the time it takes from contracting the virus until the first symptom appears.
The incubation period for HSV-1 and HSV-2 is the same: 2 to 12 days. For most people, the symptoms begin to show up in about 3 to 6 days.
However, according to the
What You Need To Know
- Herpes simplex virus , also known as genital herpes, is most likely to be spread when an infected person is having an outbreak, but it can also be transmitted without any symptoms being present.
- Medications can help reduce your symptoms, speed up the healing of an outbreak and make you less contagious.
- If you know you have genital herpes before becoming pregnant, your physician will monitor your condition throughout your pregnancy. If you have an active outbreak at the time of delivery, cesarean section may be recommended.
Also Check: How Do You Not Spread Herpes
So Cold Sores Are Only Caused By Hsv
Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 can cause cold sores on the mouth and face.
Although its more common for HSV-1 to cause cold sores, it isnt impossible for HSV-2 to cause them, too.
Cold sores arent the same thing as canker sores or mouth ulcers. They each have different causes and two entirely different presentations.
Cold sores:
- are caused by the herpes simplex virus
- usually develop near the outside of the mouth, such as below your nostrils or on your lips
- cause redness and fluid-filled blisters
- usually appear in groups
- eventually break and ooze, forming a crust-like scab
- may take 2 to 4 weeks to completely heal
Canker sores:
- may be caused by food or chemical sensitivities, dietary deficiencies, minor injury, or stress
- may develop anywhere inside your mouth, such as at the base of your gum line, inside your lip, or under your tongue
- are shaped like a circle or oval
- are typically yellow or white with a red border
- may appear solo or in groups
- usually take 1 to 2 weeks to completely heal
HSV-1 is spread through direct contact with the virus, which can be present in or around cold sores, in oral secretions , and in genital secretions .
Some of the ways it can be transmitted include:
- kissing someone on the mouth
- sharing eating utensils or cups
- sharing lip balm
The herpes virus usually affects the area where it first made contact with the body.
Some of the ways HSV-2 can be transmitted include:
You May Like: How Can You Get Herpes Simplex
Type Of Tests Used To Diagnose Herpes
There are four main types of diagnostic tests that can be used to diagnose herpes. Your doctor will determine which type of test to use based on whether an outbreak is present or not.
If youre experiencing what you believe to be a herpes outbreak, your doctor can use a viral culture test or virus antigen detection test. If youre not experiencing symptoms, you can have an antibody test.
- Viral culture test.This test is used to determine if a sore contains the herpes virus. This test can sometimes produce a false-negative, meaning that it may not detect the virus even though its present.
- Virus antigen detection test. This test is used to determine if antigens to the herpes virus are present in a sore or lesion.
- Antibody test. If youre not experiencing an outbreak yet but still believe you may have been exposed, you can opt to have an antibody test performed. This test will only show a positive result if the antibodies to the virus have been developed. Therefore, this test isnt necessarily recommended for recent exposure.
- Polymerase chain reaction test. With this test, a healthcare provider can screen a sample of your blood or tissue from a sore. They can use this to determine if HSV is present and which type you have.
Recommended Reading: How Can You Contract Herpes
Read Also: Will Herpes Bumps Go Away
How Does Genital Herpes Spread
The herpes virus that causes genital herpes spreads through saliva, semen and vaginal secretions. Its possible to get genital herpes from someone who doesnt have visible symptoms. You can have the infection, not know it and infect someone else.
Research has found it is possible for genital herpes to spread through:
- Oral sex with someone whos infected.
- Skin-to-skin contact without ejaculation.
- Touching open sores, including while breastfeeding.
- Childbirth by a mother who has an active infection.
You cant get genital herpes from objects like toilet seats. But you could pass genital herpes through shared sex toys.
Not Everyone Has Symptoms
Whether you are susceptible to recurrent cold sores or carry the virus but are never symptomatic, can be down to genes, reveals OMahony.
Once youve contracted the virus, your likelihood of getting symptoms is 99% inherited, he explains. Often in families the genetic predisposition is such that they will all be more susceptible. Everybodys immune system is different, one persons might be brilliant at dealing with cancer cells, but not much good with this virus its just the particular immune response you inherited.
Also Check: What Are Antibodies For Herpes
How To Stop Cold Sores From Spreading
You know how annoying a cold sore can be, so do your best not to share it with anyone else. Take these sensible precautions with your cold sore and increase the chances of keeping the infection to yourself.
How Long Does An Oral Herpes Outbreak Last
HSV-1, also known as oral herpes is very common and affects 2 out of 3 people globally. In many cases, the virus remains dormant and you may never even know you have it.
But when an outbreak does occur it is best to know the signs and symptoms right away so you can get tested, and get treatment.
Oral herpes outbreaks come in the form of cold sores.
There are several stages of HSV-1:
Stage 1: Prodrome âHSV-1 comes in contact with your skin and lips, causing reddening and a tingling sensation. After 1-2 days, the affected area may feel irritated, itchy and painful.
Stage 2: Swelling and Inflammation â The affected area becomes swollen, and inflamed
Stage 3: Formation of Blisters â Red, white, or clear, fluid filled blisters and/or cold sores begin to form. They last about 2 days and appear in a cluster as a single sore that is painful or sensitive to the touch.
Stage 4: Ulceration After a day or two, the sores may burst, releasing fluid and becoming more painful. This generally subsides after about a day.
Stage 5: Scabbing or Crusting â As the sores begin to heal there may be crust that develops over the burst blister and forms a scab. After 2-3 days, new skin begins to form.
Stage 6: Healing â The scab that formed over the blister will start to heal. Do not peel the scab off until the wound is completely healed to avoid getting a scar.
While the stages of an oral herpes outbreak vary in time the process can take several weeks.
Also Check: How To Prevent Herpes Breakout
How Do You Stop A Cold Sore From Being Contagious
Dealing with a cold sore can be a frustrating experience, so its important to take the right precautions to ensure the virus isnt transmitted to your loved ones.
Here are a few ways to prevent spreading the virus:
- Do not touch the cold sore, unless its to apply a treatment. Even so, wash your hands thoroughly right after.
- Avoid kissing people, even on the cheek.
- Avoid oral sex, as you can transmit the virus to your partners genitals.
- Do not share any personal items such as cups, bottles, food, or other items that could come in contact with your cold sore.
- Change your toothbrush to prevent reinfection. The virus can live on your toothbrush for days.
- Follow the treatment plan correctly, based on your doctors recommendations.
How To Prevent The Risk Of Transmitting The Herpes Zoster Virus
If you have shingles, cover your rashes with sterile bandages. Allow the skin to air dry before covering the blisters with calamine. Avoid touching your rashes and wash your hands often.
Getting vaccinated can also lower your risk of developing shingles in the future. Shingrix is an effective vaccine that provides more than 85% protection against the virus.
Read Also: Are There Different Types Of Herpes
Exact Answer: 15 Days
Herpes is a genital disease that is a common disease that is caused by sexually transmitted infection. The disease is a skin disease and can happen to both males and females. The disease is highly transferrable and can be transmitted from one person to another. An infected adult can make the infection vulnerable to kids too.
The disease spreads through sexual contact but it can spread from a person to others too. There are several medications to treat herpes disease but there is no permanent cure for it. Children who have contracted this disease from an adult would often contract HSV-1 during their initial stage.
Dont Miss: How To Deal With Having Genital Herpes
How Soon Can You Be Tested
The incubation period for herpes is 2 to 12 days, which means that the best time to get tested for the herpes virus if you havent had an initial outbreak is after 12 days. If youre worried that youve been exposed to herpes but have not yet been diagnosed, here are some steps you can take:
- If youre currently sexually active, stop all sexual activity until you can receive a formal diagnosis.
- Reach out to your doctor and schedule an appointment for once the incubation period is up.
- If youre having an outbreak, you dont have to wait to get tested. Its possible to receive a diagnosis based on the lesions.
Recommended Reading: Get Rid Of Herpes Antibodies
Can Genital Herpes Cause Other Problems
For most women, genital herpes does not usually cause serious health problems.
Women with HIV can have severe herpes outbreaks that are long-lasting. Herpes also may play a role in the spread of HIV. Herpes sores can make it easier for HIV to get into your body. Also, herpes can make people who are HIV-positive more likely to spread the infection to someone else.
How Are Cold Sores Treated In A Child
Treatment will depend on your childs symptoms, age, and general health. It will also depend on how severe the condition is.
The herpes simplex virus infection that causes cold sores cant be cured, but treatment may help ease some cold sore symptoms. Treatment may include antiviral medicine and other types of prescription medicines. These medicines work best if started as soon as possible after the first sign of a herpes infection or recurrence. Talk with your childs healthcare providers about the risks, benefits, and possible side effects of all medicines. Cold sores usually don’t scar. They last 10 to 14 days.
Recommended Reading: What Medication For Herpes Outbreak
How Long Are They Contagious
Cold sores are contagious up until you do not see the scar at all, which usually means around 15 days or so. They are the most contagious when you have an active sore, but you can still transmit the virus even when the blister appears to be healing.
A good rule of thumb is that if the sore has disappeared completely and there are no visible signs of it, then you are likely not contagious anymore.
How Does The Herpes Zoster Virus Spread
The herpes zoster virus that is shed from shingles lesions is highly contagious and can be spread through direct contact with the fluid caused by rash blisters.
Shingles have not been known to spread during intercourse or via sexual contact, although touching open sores will lead to a high risk of contracting the virus.
The herpes zoster virus has been detected in the saliva and nasal secretions of the affected individuals. So theoretically, the virus can be spread through kissing, although this is very rare.
Recommended Reading: Does Herpes Need To Be Treated
Episodic Therapy For Recurrences
For a recurrent episode, treatment takes 1 to 5 days, depending on the type of medication and dosage. You should begin the medication as soon as you notice any signs or symptoms of herpes, preferably during the prodrome stage that precedes the outbreak of lesions.
In order for episodic therapy to be effective, it must be taken no later than 1 day after a lesion appears. If taken during prodrome, episodic therapy may help prevent an outbreak from occurring or reduce its severity. If taken at the first sign of a lesion, it can help speed healing.
Read Also: Can You Get Rid Of Herpes Virus