Are these cold sores?

[ilovetosleep]

I don't get cold sores so no idea. DH does and thinks these look like small ones but they're very symmetrically positioned! He's 18months and as far as I know never had one before. He also has a v snotty cold and cough. If they are cold sores I assume I am ok to carry ok breastfeeding? What can I do to treat them?

[Booboostwo]

They could be. I think you need medical advice. I am not sure what medication you can use safely on a young child, you will need some help with stopping them spreading and they can be passed onto the nipple so I'd want to ask about that as well.

Has anyone with cold sores kissed him in the last 7 days?

[ilovetosleep]

Well he is pretty affectionate... He's kissed one or two of his friends on the lips! But I do t think any of them had cold sores. No one at home has had one.

[ilovetosleep]

Is it urgent to get them treated or can I wait to see GP tomorrow?

[TheoriginalLEM]

i'd call the nhs direct as the do look like coldsores and in terms of putting stuff on them im not sure if they do anything suitable for children but the key is getting the cream on (adult ones) as soon as you can or you are pissing in the wind.

Maybe some calpol though as they can be fecking painful and make you feel like shit.

[PrincessHairyMclary]

My Dd got them at that age, I'm still surprised it took that long as I get at least one a month.

The just gave her a generic Zovirax cream so you can buy it over the counter. It's a viral infection and often has cold symptoms. Don't be surprised if he is off his food as it can be extremely sore they normally last 10 days; days 3-5 are always worse for me.

Once he has the virus they may crop up when he is run down, stressed, in the sun too long or in the cold too long.

[PrincessHairyMclary]

Also he might not want to feed because compressing his lips on the nipple will make them sore. Try expressing and feeding from a cup.

[ilovetosleep]

He's been totally happy I'm himself today but has woken early from his nap for the first time ever! I'm not UK, can't call NHs and we have no pharmacies or doctors on a Sunday here, but I can call an Ooh GP at the hospital. I guess if they think it's necessary they hospital pharmacy could prescribe something. I'm irrationally devastated about this ! It could be so much worse!

[ilovetosleep]

He's not off his food yet and is feeding fine, really really blocked nose though (as is his brothers - also no cold sores there). He was dribbling loads on Friday that might have had something to do with it..

[PrincessHairyMclary]

Most people get cold sores at one time or another some only once, some frequently like me.

However I've never had chicken pox although I've been exposed to it alot and it's a related virus so I figure I'm immune because I get them.

[dairyfarmerswife]

They do look like cold sores. Especially if your Dh gets them. Did he have tiny blisters first? I would be wary of breast feeding I'm afraid, as the cold sore virus can spread easily to other parts of the body. I think out of hours advice would be best, re the breast feeding. Agree about pain relief, I use ibuprofen when I have a cold sore as the anti inflammatory stops it getting so big.

The only thing I would say is that they are so symmetrical, could he have been chewing his lips with top teeth?

[wallywobbles]

I really have no idea if they can spread to your nipples, but if they can that will be the end of breastfeeding if you get them. To give you an idea of the pain level, mine feel like cigarette burns.

[ilovetosleep]

The symmetry is weird isn't it. He didn't have tiny blisters first, his Los just looked a little red yesterday. I don't think he has bitten his lips or anything but like I said he is very bunged up so they are quite dry. I'm a bit hesitant to call ooh here with regard to breastfeeding, as their usual response to anything by related is just to stop feeding (not v pro bf) there very little support with taking any meds and bf. But I might try one of the bf hotlines. I think I'll wait to see a GP tomorrow but if he gets any worse today i'll call ooh. He really doesn't seem bothered at all.

[ilovetosleep]

Am waiting for OOH to call me back now. His cheeks seem to be quite red too.

[Lostmyemailaddress]

With the blisters and the cough and cold there is a chance it could be hand foot and mouth if it is he could be off with feeding for a few days dd2 and ds4 was. The only treatment for that is paracetamol as they can develop a temp.

[ilovetosleep]

Ok so I just spoke to the Ooh GP. She obv cannot diagnose without seeing him but she said it was very unlikely to be cold sores if he has not kissed anyone with them, which I am 99% sure he hasn't. She also said that if it is, it cannot be transferred to my nipples. She said there are several viruses/infections that can look a little like cold sores to the untrained eye (I guess she meant hand foot and mouth etc) and advised me to use Vaseline and ibuprofen/calpol and to see GP tomorrow. If it gets worse to go in to see her tonight at the hospital. Weirdly the sores really seem to have gone down and are hardly visible now. He's still chirpy but not begging me for food at 5pm like normal!

[Booboostwo]

That's good news! Hopefully he just bit his lips and caused little blisters which are already healing.

[allz]

did it turn out okay?