Cold Sores in Children
Cold sores in children are nothing out of the ordinary. According to the American Social Health Association, around half of the adult population in the U.S. is infected with the virus that causes cold sores, and most were exposed during childhood. However, if your child has a cold sore, chiding him not to pick at it or pop blisters may not have the desired effect. Here's what parents should know about cold sores--and how to treat them in children.
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How Did Your Child Get a Cold Sore?
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Your child experiences a painful cold sore when he's exposed to someone with the herpes simplex-1 virus (HSV-1). This virus can be transmitted by an affectionate kiss or other facial contact, but it can be spread by shared towels, dishes and eating utensils as well. Once you are infected, the HSV-1 virus travels to the ganglia at the top of the spine, where it sleeps until something causes it to wake. Someone who's uninfected with HSV-1 may not notice symptoms of a cold sore for between one and three weeks after exposure, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Are Cold Sores Harmful?
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Cold sores go by other names as well--fever blisters, oral herpes and herpes labialis. According to ASHA, about 75 percent of people who get a cold sore never get another. A cold sore can be extremely painful and unpleasant--not to mention unsightly. But picking at the cold sore can cause a bacterial infection that leaves behind scars. Also, because the watery blisters contain HSV-1, your child can spread the virus to other parts of his body. While your child has a cold sore, discourage touching the sore and ensure that he washes his hands frequently, just to be safe.
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Cold Sore Treatments
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According to the Mayo Clinic, most cold sores resolve in a week to 10 days and don't require medical treatment. When your child's cold sore is particularly painful, there are drugstore creams and ointments you can purchase that contain topical anesthetics, such as Blistex®, Campho-Phenique® and Anbesol®. These may give your child some relief, but ASHA warns that frequent application of these balms can actually hinder the healing process simply because the sore is being touched. According to ASHA, there is one over-the-counter topical treatment called Abreva® that's approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration that aids along the healing process.
Getting Medical Help
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A visit to your child's pediatrician may be warranted if a cold sore becomes infected or if she suffers repeated outbreaks of sores. There are oral and topical antifungal medications a doctor may prescribe to reduce the severity and duration of cold sores.
Final Precautions
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The HSV-1 that causes cold sores is extremely contagious, particularly to other children and infants. If your child has a cold sore, he should be warned not to kiss friends or family members and refrain from face-to-face contact with others until the sores have totally healed.
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- Photo Credit Photo: Alicia Solario (stock.xchng)
