What are cold sores?

Cold sores, also known as fever blisters, are pocket-size, fluid-filled blisters that ingather up on or near the lips.

They tin announced individually or in clusters. Despite their proper noun, common cold sores take zippo to do with colds.

Some people misfile cold sores with canker sores. Canker sores are crater-like sores that usually appear individually on the tongue or gums or on the inside of the cheeks.

lip with raised sore where lip meets face skin

Courtesy of the CDC

What causes cold sores?

Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus. Canker simplex virus type 1 usually causes cold sores, and herpes simplex virus type two usually causes genital canker, though either tin can cause sores in the facial or genital expanse.

How did my child become the virus?

Someone with the virus – nigh likely in the class of a cold sore or herpes gingivostomatitis – gave information technology to him. Most people who get the canker simplex virus become it sometime during childhood.

For example, maybe your child shared a cup, utensil, or slobbery toy with someone who has the infection. Or perchance he was kissed past someone with the virus in her saliva (whether or not the person had a visible sore).

Babies can also get the canker virus during a vaginal birth if their mother has genital herpes. You can't transmit the virus to your baby by breastfeeding, though, even if yous take an active common cold sore.

Are in that location other symptoms?

During the start bout with the canker simplex virus – called main herpes – your child may have mouth soreness (the blisters can spread throughout the mouth during this first episode), mucilage inflammation, and perhaps a fever, swollen lymph nodes, and a sore throat. These primary symptoms may be very balmy, and you may not even notice them.

Your kid will get meliorate in about 10 to fourteen days, but the virus volition stay in her body for life. In some people, the virus lies dormant and never acts upwardly. In others, it periodically flares upwardly and triggers cold sores.

These flare-ups are called secondary herpes. Stress, fever, and sun exposure – but not contact with a cold sore – seem to trigger outbreaks.

During these secondary flare-ups, your child probably won't accept swelling of her gums or lymph nodes or a fever or sore pharynx, just she volition have the telltale blistering on or nigh her lips.

Are cold sores ever dangerous?

Cold sores themselves aren't dangerous, simply information technology is possible for the virus to spread to other parts of the body – and that can be dangerous.

Information technology's very unusual for a child to go a cold sore in the first vi months or and then of life, considering the antibodies received from his mother offer some protection. But if your baby is younger than 3 months old and he gets whatsoever kind of mouth sore, telephone call his medico right away. In young babies, in particular, the herpes virus tin can spread to the brain and other organs, causing serious, potentially permanent or fatal damage.

Try to go along your child from touching his eyes when he has a cold sore. When the virus spreads to the optics, information technology's chosen ocular canker. This is a serious center infection.

If your child develops a sore on his eyelid or the surface of his eye, call the doc correct abroad. Your child may need antiviral drugs to keep the infection from scarring his cornea. In rare cases, ocular herpes can weaken vision and fifty-fifty cause blindness.

What's the all-time way to treat a common cold sore?

A cold sore will become away on its own. Hither are some ways to ease whatever discomfort:

  • Apply ice (or a cool, wet material) to the sore, to help with redness and swelling.
  • Give your child the proper dose of a balmy pain reliever, such equally acetaminophen or (if she's 6 months or older) ibuprofen. (If your child is younger than 3 months onetime, phone call the doctor before giving her any medication. And never requite aspirin to a babe. Information technology could trigger Reye's syndrome, a rare but life-threatening illness.)
  • Avoid citrus fruit and other acidic food (such as tomatoes) that might make the sore injure more.
  • Try over-the-counter ointments to relieve the pain and help heal the common cold sore. (If your child is younger than 12 months, check the historic period recommendations on the package and talk with the doctor about what's best for your child.)
  • If the sore is severe, the doctor may prescribe an antiviral topical or oral medicine.

If your kid's cold sore is painful, it may interfere with eating. If that's the instance, talk with her doctor right away.

How can I prevent cold sores and keep them from spreading?

I peck with an infected lip is all information technology takes to pass on the virus.

If y'all have a cold sore:

  • Avoid kissing your kid, especially if he's a newborn, until the cold sore goes away. If your kid is an infant, consider wearing a surgical mask to comprehend the sore also.
  • Avoid sharing cups and eating utensils.

If your child has a common cold sore:

  • Wash his hands regularly.
  • Try to keep him from picking at the cold sore. (Endeavour putting mittens or socks on his easily while he sleeps.)
  • Don't let him share toys.
  • Don't let him share drinks or eating utensils.
  • Don't let him kiss babies.

Exposure to sunlight tin trigger an outbreak once a child has the virus. So if your child seems prone to common cold sores as he gets older, dominicus protection is a specially good thought. A hat with a skirt and some lip lotion for protection should help.