can you get a herpes breast infection from breastfeeding?

[lumo]

My14mo has a herpetic infection inside his mouth and coincidentally I have a small cut on my nipple on the side he feeds from (has always refused other side). Is it possible to get a herpetic nipple /breast infection this way?
Is it something to avoid?
Also does breastmilk have antiviral properties?

Only danger is if you haven't ever been in contact with herpes- but as an adult you will have even if you've never had a cold sore. DS1 had eczema herpeticum when he was 11 months old- its when herpes infects eczema and can move onto the blood and be fatal- but it only ever happens the very first time you meet herpes. As an adult you should be fine.

Thanks jimjams.Glad I am not likely to get anything serious! But could I get a localised herpes infection on my nipple?

Breastmilk does have antiviral proerties. It is highly likely you are immune to the type of herpes infection your ds has, so to be honest I would just continue to feed him.

shouldn't do (i'm not an expert in this by any means- just read around when ds1 had eczema herpeticum). Once you've had herpes (which apparently every adult has) then the infeciton should re-occur in the original site of infection. So for most people that means cold sores- they don't actually get them when they've been re-exosed just when run down (or not at all if immunity is good). Ds1 wouldn't get a cold sore but he would get some blisters wherever the herpes initially infected his eczema.

I think genital herpes is a slightly different virus -

www.rxmed.com/b.main/b1.illness/b1.1.illnesses/Herpes%20Simplex.htm

This site has some info- looks to me as if you catch in in childhood and then it remains with you, so you couldn't catch it again iyswim. I'm not an expert though

My daughter got her first herpes (cold sore) infection at around 18mo.

I didn't recognise it as such - her mouth and gums swelled like crazy - and in spite of seeing three doctors over the course of a week, none of them pointed out to me what it was. In fact, I was given antibiotics for her.

Anyway, she wouldn't eat and wouldn't take water but I was still breastfeeding and did throughout, ignorant of the cause of her pain.

My point is: I didn't get cold sores on my nipples! My DH and my mum both get them so it's more than possible that I've been exposed before.

Completely anecdotal though. I don't know if I'd do it again, put in the same situation as I never did manage to find anything definitive once I found out what the problem was.

I've had herpes on my nipples - but not from b/f. I never did work out where/how I got it - I was about 27 and not in a relationship at the time. Very sore though - my boobs felt like they were on fire and needed to be "supported" all the time - I'd probably got a secondary infection, although it wasn't mastitis (which I've had since, so know the difference!). It was over the Easter weekend, so it was ages beofre I could get to see a doctor.

GP wasn't much help - gave me some antibiotics I think. It was my GP best friend (at the time newly qualified) who diagnosed it (initially over the phone! - but she did see the healing scabs for confirmation) and said that one of her friends (also newly qualified) had just seen her "first" case of "nipple" herpes.

I'd never had cold sores, so that's maybe why I'd ended up being susceptible to it. The virus may have been dormant there for some time.

I don't know how old you are Lumo, or whether you've had cold sores before (if so, as someone said, your nipples are safe, as the virus recurs at the initial site), but if you've not had cold sores, it might be worth checking with your doctor.

I've had two minor recurrences, easily treatable with Zovirax or similar - and fortunately both before I had ds and was breast feeding him!

Any chance that 'small cut' could actually be a tiny herpes sore? You can get herpes 1 (the cold sore virus) anywhere above the waist which includes the nipples and even the hands. It can be asymptomatic but you still shed the virus, or it can have very minor symptoms but still be infectious. Over 70% of adults have had the virus which means they might shed the virus. I presume you've seen a dr about it.

I've got a coldsore right now on my top lip, and it hurts! The worst is when I get them just under my nostrils, it looks like I have bogies trailing out of my nose! But your nipples.......! I never thought you could get the virus there! I suppose there is no reason why you can't though, but it usually affects your lips/nose/genitals and occasionally eyes if you are unlucky. The virus is very infectious and I usually avoid kissing dd when I have it, I use different mugs to drink out of and am careful not to wipe my mouth on the towels. You should also wash your hands thoroughly after touching it. If you do get infected, the virus probably won't show itself straight away, it could lie dormant for years. An attack is usually brought on by an abrasion, or cold, or stress.

Lumo I would consult your GP for advice. Hope you manage to avoid it though!

It did hurt - lots! I suppose nipples have the same sort of soft tissue as the "normal" places. At least now I know the signs and can treat it before it gets really bad, as it did the first time.

Thank you all who have replied.
I think the small cut was caused by my baby falling out of bed about two weks ago and remaining attached! My nipple got stretched sharply and a small cut appeared the next day, just on one side of the bit that sticks out.
My baby showed signs of mouth herpes a week later, during which time the cut has not healed. However since puting this question on this site I have now got two small scabs on my nipple on the pink bit, not the bit that sticks out but the bit round that - two of the little lumps have scbbed over so I am fairly sure I do indeed have a herpes nipple infection. It is a bit uncomfortable but I am keeping on breastfeeding.

Lumo - that sounds like a mild form of what I had. You should probably still go and see the doctor just to check it out - and get some Zovirax or something like that. Make the most of free prescriptions!

janz did you get zovirax and rub it on the affected bit of nipple? Did this help? How long till it went away and did you keep feeding your baby?
Sorry about all the questions but I am feeling like the only one.

lumo - i would get it checked out if you think you've got it. When ds1 had eczema herpeticum they gave him oral acyclovir (like oral zovirax).

When I had the problem it was well before I had ds, so I can't help you. From memory (this was a long time ago), I rubbed the ointment onto the nipple area. I may have been given some oral tablets by my best friend on one of the subesequent flare ups, which happened to occur while I was visiting her, but this was years ago, and I can't really remember.

Fortunately, I didn't have any flare ups while I was b/f ds.

Sorry I can't be more help.