Cold sores in children: symptoms and treatments

Herpes labialis in children , also called cold sores , is a fairly common disorder caused by the Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-I). This virus is transmitted through direct contact with the saliva, mouth, or hands of an infected person, who is often a family member. Usually, the first infection occurs in preschool age, but in some rare cases it can also affect newborns.

Cold sores in newborns

In general, neonatal herpes infection is caused in 80% of cases by HSV-2 (genital herpes) due to contact of the fetus with the infected mother's uterus during birth. However, the distinction between the two viruses is not so clear-cut, because HSV-1 can cause genital lesions in some cases, and vice versa herpes type 2 can cause vesicles in the mouth area.

The most common symptom of herpes infection in newborn babies is skin blisters, which, if left untreated, can lead to more serious forms of the disease. If a woman contracts genital herpes in the last trimester of pregnancy, it is advisable to schedule a cesarean section to avoid possible contagion.

Cold sores in children

The first infection by Herpes virus type 1 usually occurs in preschool age, and can take the form of herpetic stomatitis : clear liquid-filled blisters appear inside the mouth, on the lips or face, often accompanied by fever, swollen lymph nodes and sore throat. Usually, in the hours before the blisters appear, the child feels itching or a burning sensation in the affected area. The infection should be treated with topical or oral antiviral drugs prescribed by the pediatrician.

Cold sores in immunocompromised children can cause frequent recurrences, in a more serious form than in healthy subjects. In other cases, however, the first contact with this virus does not produce significant symptoms, and goes completely unnoticed. Herpes simplex type 1 can also affect the eye, causing the formation of small itchy pustules, redness and watery eyes. In cases where you detect one of these symptoms, it is essential to contact your trusted pediatrician immediately to have the most appropriate drug therapy prescribed.

After the first infection, the virus does not disappear and goes to localize in the nerve bundles, "hiding" from the immune system. Some events - illnesses, psychophysical stress, tiredness, unbalanced diet and exposure to the sun - can cause its reactivation: the virus will come out of the nerve cells causing the typical skin rash. For this reason, it is essential to act on prevention: we talk about it in the article " How to prevent cold sores ".