Toddler with recurring coldsores. Help!

[Monty000]

I'm an absolute mess. My son got his first severe coldsore outbreak 9 months ago. (We have no idea how he got it) He averages 2 coldsores a month but since it's come into winter and catching all the bugs, he is getting a coldsore weekly. This month alone he has gotten 4!!!

He is only 2.2 years old and its BREAKING my heart seeing him go through this. No specialist or doctor will do anything and said for us to hope it gets better the older he gets. I can't accept that and I'm really struggling to deal with it. It's affected me emotionally, my relationship with my partner and life in general.

I'm starting to become very depressed. We are now using zovirax but seems to make no difference and I hate having to use it almost every day now.

I need to talk to someone who has been in the same situation and to tell me it gets better. I'm struggling!

I was in a similar situation a while back. I won't say the whole situation as it's quite outing, but my DC caught cold sores and we're pretty confident we know from where. I was absolutely devastated. My DP thought I was mad, I think, but I just couldn't shake the feeling that their beautiful little mouth would be affected like this, potentially forever. I was furious, upset, and it took ages for it to pass. DC was under a year old and had five of them around their lower lip.

We used Zovirax in the first instance, and we haven't had another outbreak since. I've been given to understand that the likelihood is that if they experience them when they're younger they're less likely to get them in adulthood? I was told that most of us have probably had the virus at some point; some of us have it and never ever have another outbreak.

I'm so sorry OP; I completely understand your feelings of upset. I'm sorry I can't give you any practical advice, just wanted you to know that you're not alone.

Oh dear, that must be awful! Odds are someone you know has them asymptomatically. Apparently they are contagious even when not active and some people carry it and never develop one after the initial infection. I'm sure it will get better. Must suck in the meantime though, my sympathies.

Did your little one have recurring coldsores or just the 1 outbreak?. I think if he got them once a year I would be ok but 14 in 9 months is beyond the joke!

I get recurring cold sores and asked a naturopath friend if she knew anything about what might be causing them and how to avoid them. She said that through research she'd done and clients she'd worked with, that she believes there to be a link to food intolerance/sensitivities and cold sores. Basically the idea is eating foods your intolerant of lowers your immune response and then you're more susceptible to an outbreak. I definitely have problems with dairy (but can't bring myself to give it up 😩) so this definitely felt like it could be a possibility for me. Any sign of any problematic foods with your child, OP? Maybe something to thjnk about, if so.

Hi op. I've been a cold sore sufferer and had breakouts that Zovirax wouldn't touch. I've ended up on anti viral medication from it. It was horrific. A while ago I bought a topical treatment called Propovir, not realising it was a natural treatment (was sceptical). It worked better than anything I've ever used though, cleared up in 1-2 days. I'm not sure if it's available in the UK but you might be able to find the same ingredients in a different brand.

www.davidjonespharmacy.com.au/propovir-natural-cold-sore-cream-2g

What is your anti viral medication called. I'm going back to the docs and I'll ask if suitable for a 2yo. I'm almost ready to try anything now. He has so much scarring already on his lips.

My DD got the virus when she was under 2. Started with lots of little blisters in her mouth, which was fun. When she first got a coldsore she would keep picking at it and she basically had a permanent coldsore for winter. That happened for 2 years. She’s almost 6 now and hasn’t had a coldsore in a year.

How often did she get them a year? It's absolutely horrible and he is scarring alot now because it's in the same spot. How did you deal with it emotionally and what did you put on it?

I get coldsores and one thing I know definitely triggers them is the sun. I was poopoohed by a doctor years ago but I've since seen studies that support it. So try putting some spf lip balm on him every day, especially around the edge of his lips.

oh sorry I've just seen you're in winter so not in the northern hemisphere - but if in Australia etc still protect from the sun.

With DD, because she was so young, I didn’t put anything on them. She’d just rub it off. She used to try licking them, which made her lips dry and then she’d pick them and they would bleed.

The sun triggers my DH's coldsores too so I second the spf lipbalm every day, even in the depths of winter.

DC hasn't had a reoccurrence of them but I did notice a red mark under their bottom lip the other day, in the area where the cold sores first came out, so am hoping it's not them returning.

Did it end up being a coldsore?

No not yet, keeping an eye out but at the moment it just seems like a red mark because of the teething.

How are you doing OP? I found myself feeling really upset trying to chase DC around to apply Zovirax; I had PND and it didn't help one bit!

I'm so depressed over it and its really making me miserable. If he had it once a year I would be ok but 5 this month and 15 coldsores in 9 months is just ridiculous. Every spot on his face makes me paranoid. I'm over applying creams and I think he is too. His poor lip is so scarred and that alone depresses me

Will they not consider prescribing him a course of oral antiviral drugs?

My DC had them quite often when they were little but they’re now 7 and haven’t had one in a couple of years. Immunity tends to strengthen as one gets older and outbreaks can become less frequent.

Also catching the cold sore virus is so very common and hard to prevent. Most of us will catch it in childhood- the proportion of people who get to 18 without it is low. I’m not even sure where or how my DC got it- possibly at nursery, it’s so easily spread. Some people just have good immune systems so never actually get outbreaks, so don’t beat yourself up about the fact your child has caught it.

I had recurrent cold sores and often got 3 or 4 per month. They were sore, dirty looking and caused scars so I really feel for you both. I now take oral aciclovir (brand name Zovirax) low dose daily to prevent cold sores and haven't had one for years which makes me so happy! I think you need to speak to a sympathetic doc and ask for the liquid to be prescribed for your DS. It's licensed in the UK for children (I'm a hospital pharmacist) and honestly it's the only medicine which will be effective. There are no side effects too long term use and it's very well tolerated. Good luck.

We have just seen another doctor and they won't prescribe him in anti-viral medication because it causes liver damage in young kids. They have requested blood tests to see if there is any underlining issue. It's so very frustrating and hard to accept!

We asked yesterday and said it causes liver damage in such young kids

I've had recurring cold sores since your sons age and I'm afraid there's nothing to be done. I get around 12 per year. It does end up being a bit like one long cold sore.

I find the zovirax etc does nothing for healing, and it encourages you to be touching the sore all the day long so makes it worse.

I've asked a few doctors about anti viral medication but they say it's not needed, it's "just a cold sore".

It is upsetting and my young son also now has them, he may have got it from me despite me trying me best. But when you have them constantly it's impossible not to spread it, unless I was to leave and have him raised solo by his dad.

Have you tried an L-lysine supplement? It’s an amino acid and some people (including a good friend) have had great success with it. Like any vitamin or whatever it takes a few weeks to get into the system and start to work but that might help to stop them. Worth a go maybe? You can get it in health food shops. Good luck x

Hi Op , my 5 year old DD is in the same boat. She had a horrible virus 3 years ago and she had cold sores in and around her mouth and since then she has had them frequently. As soon as she's run down or been to highly populated places like soft plays / farms / amusement parks she will sprout out in them. She's currently got 3 . We use Zovirax and that does work but for a long term treatment to prevent it happening so much we're at a loss.

@1300cakes you shouldn't have to put up with this! Aciclovir tablets taken asst low dose, long term prevents cold sores. I would try and speak again to a sympathetic GP.