Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Children's health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Newborn exposed to cold sore

1 reply

Sorin · 25/06/2024 17:59

I suffer with cold sores, I got them from my grandmother as a child and they appear every year or so. Haven't got one in a while but Sunday morning I initially thought I had an irritation from shaving which in the afternoon turned out to be a cold sore as I noticed the burning sensation and a small blister appeared just bellow my nose. I Unfortunately touched and kissed my 4 weeks old son without knowing this can be such a danger. I then read online and heard horror stories and I panicked. I called 111 and they advised me to keep an eye on my son and if he has a fever or any sign of concern to call back.
However I cannot calm down, I read only scary stories online and also that the virus has 2-12 days incubation period. I am wondering if it can take that long to show itself or if I pass the first week I should be able to relax a little?
I hope that I didn't actually touched him with the sore and maybe it will all be fine but I am very worried. My wife never had a cold sore and I don't think she has the antibodies to transfer to him through breast milk.
Anyone experienced something similar and the baby didn't catch the virus and everything was alright? The thread I read online don't actually do a follow up so I don't know what the outcome was for other people in similar situations.
Thank you!

OP posts:
Ava27268 · 25/06/2024 18:11

My husband suffers from cold sores and had one when our baby was a newborn. He hadn’t kissed our baby on her face or hands as he is so prone to getting cold sores but was very worried about otherwise transferring the virus. Our baby didn’t catch it. I was breastfeeding and to my knowledge haven’t had a cold sore before, despite our 10 year relationship. Our GP advised that we should continue with meticulous hand washing, separate towels etc and said that I likely had some antibodies as the chances were that we had eg kissed just before he had symptoms on another occasion. Please try not to worry.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread