Babies/ children and the cold sore virus

[mersmam]

Am writing this after reading a (very confusing!) thread in the news section.
Apparently a new born baby can die of the cold sore virus and I get the impression (perhaps wrongly) that you should not allow anyone who carries the cold sore virus to kiss your newborn (even if they have no cold sores at the time).

My FIL gets cold sores - should he keep his face away from my baby (due in a few months) even if he has no outbreak (he never kisses the DCs if he actualy has a cold sore anyway)? That sounds horrible I know - but I obviously want to keep the baby safe (and I'm sure he will too!)

Also, if that's the case, what age is it OK for him to kiss them? DD1 has eczema and I read that cold sores can cause some serious complications with this...

Info from anyone in the know would be much appreciated!

Also wanted to add that it's not supposed to be an issue if the mother has the cold sore virus, as she'll pass on the antibodies to the baby in the womb (???)
I don't have the virus so my baby won't have the antibodies.

I think you only have to avoid direct contact when a cold sore is present. From NHS direct - Cold sores are at their most contagious when they burst (rupture), but they remain contagious until they are completely healed. Therefore, it is important for others to avoid direct contact with your affected area until your cold sore has completely healed and disappeared.

My dh gets cold sores but I have never suffered from them and neither dd or ds have had them either. He is always careful not to kiss them when one is active but will do so when he hasnt got one.

Thanks Seona - that's quite reassuring!

If a pregnant woman has an outbreak of genital herpes a c-section is recommended as the baby can get infected in the birth canal and become seriously ill or die. So that's a huge concern with the herpes virus.

Ok. That thread was confusing.

Coldsores are very dangerous to a baby. FACT
Coldsores can be transferred from an active site to baby FACT
Open wounds (including excema sites) are particularly prone to receiving the infection.
Coldsores can be trasnefrred from a carrier to a baby - only in v v v rare circumstances at best.

The most balanced and accurate posts on that thread were from Liath if you want to revistit it.

Will do that and hope it makes me a bit less confues Slightlymad! Thanks

Your top three points make good common sense, it's just the last one that's a bit worrying, even if it is very rare. Anyway, off to read Liath...

I meant confused - see how confused I really am?

I'm confused too. My husband carries the virus on his face and gets outbreaks. He passed the virus to me so I caught it in my genitals (although I never get outbreaks-use your imagination how I got it).
So is my dd (7 months) immune. If she's not what would happen if my husband kissed her while the virus is active?

Let me know if you have any specific queries, mersman . The whole herpes virus thing is a bit confusing especially when the media get the wrong end of the stick!

Valley pricess - your husband shouldn't kiss your DD when he has an active coldsore. Your DD won't be immune just becase you are a carrier as I understand it.

I gave 2 of my DC's an oral herpes infection - and I would have been a carrier whilst I was pregnant. My Dcs were 25m and 6y when I infected them and they were both really poorly. Much more poorly than them having flu. DD3 almost ended up in hospital (admittedly through dehydration as a cosequence of not being able to drink rather than the actualy virus itself).

The primary coldsore infection (which is the potential consequence of your hsband kissing them with an active coldsore) is a primary oral herpes infection. In my DD's case it consisted of around 18-20 ulcers in (and potentially around) the mouth - especially on the gums at teething sites. The ulcers make it v painful to eat and drink - especially suck the breast or bottle - so there is a significant dehydration risk. A very high fever - 38.5+ is usual and usually starts before the ulcers break. Very swollen glands in teh neck and abdomen causing pain. My DD3 was very listless and sleepy for about a week (probably lack of food and fluids). Oh and hte bad breath - although "harmless" was horrific. My DD3 was affected worse - although I think that was more related to her age as DTD1 understood that she had to drink - and could drink out of a glass - so didn't have to use her sore tongue to suck.

Once infected with the coldsore virus she will carry it for life - getting coldsores periodically - especially when run down with a cold or similar - although repeat outbreaks tend to consist of a single sore and don't have the other associated syptoms (swollen glands, fever etc.)

The other long term affect that seems to have affected DTD1 - although possibly coincidental is that she now suffers mesenteric adenitis. This means that whenever she gets a (usually viral) infection - e.g.- just a cold she ends up with severe tummy pain as a result of swollen glands.

So I think that the important messages are (correct me if I am wrong Liath)

1. it is safe to kiss anyone as long as there is no active sore
2. it is not safe to kiss anyone with an active sore - particularly if they are not a carrier.
3. The Primary (i.e first) infection is the most severe and can lead to hospital admission in young children
4. The risks of cross infection from dormant virus are low enough (i.e. miniscule - the unaffected party would have to have a cut for the virus to enter anyway) that there are no reasons to restrict kissing even if you are a carrier.

That pretty much sums it up, slightlymadscotland.

Interestingly there is an arguement that your kids are better off getting their first herpes infection during childhood, unpleasant though it is. There was a lot of herpes around during the 1960s & 70s so most people of my vintage gave had it and have immunity. The childhood rates then reduced so there are a lot of young adults and teenagers around now who have never had it. There's been a big rise in genital herpes recently and it's thought that this may be partly because there are a lot more young people around now who never had oral herpes as children so don't have the antibody protection agaist genital herpes.

Plus there is the risk that if you've never had it as a child you could get your first infection during pregnancy which can be catastrophic . Not that I'm advocating cold sore parties or anything but I wouldn't feel too guilty if I gave either of my kids oral herpes on the basis that it could save them from a far worse illness later in life.

Thanks SlightlyMad and Liath - very clear info!

Giving my DD coldsores is my worst knightmare, I've got scares on my chin from ones I had when a toddler. I actually cried the first time I had a coldsore after i'd had DD