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Children's health

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Cold Sores

4 replies

Drewk · 21/10/2017 02:42

Hi all
DD (4 weeks old) had a peck on the head on Wednesday (over 48 hours ago) from someone who is a carrier of cold sore virus (didn’t have any active sores at the time) and I’ve since read about the horror stories of babies health problems and possibly even dying after contracting the virus, so now obviously I’m freaking out, main thing I’m wanting to know is, how long before I would know if baby has caught the virus, I’ve read the incubation period is 2-12 days, others it is almost immediately

OP posts:
underneaththeash · 22/10/2017 07:40

Please don't worry, there has to be a route of transmission for the virus, so it can't be passed on by someone kissing unbroken skin.
Most people are herpes carriers anyway (70% in UK).

Incidentally, I'm prone to getting cold sores, so have made a point of never kissing my children on the mouth, but have kissed lots of other parts of them!

Notreallyarsed · 22/10/2017 07:43

DSD1 had a cold sore when DD was 3 weeks old and I was advised by NHS 24 to keep her away until it was cleared up. As far as I was told there has to be an active outbreak for the virus to pass on, and I was absolutely terrified DD would catch it. (She didn’t because we kept them separate until it was gone)

Cupoteap · 22/10/2017 07:51

I get cold sores and so far have not passed this onto my dc in the last 10 years

Drewk · 23/10/2017 22:24

Thank you all, you’ve helped alleviate this worried dads fears, god help my anxiety when she brings her first boyfriend/ girlfriend home

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