Cold sore in 11 month old DS - yikes! The guilt....

[Mummyfor3]

DS3 awoke this am with typical cold sore cluster of small blisters on his chin . I expect that he caught this from me as I have had a bad run of them in the last couple of weeks.

So here my question to anybody knowledgable (immunologists, microbiologist, any other scientist in the know):

1. SHould I not have expected BFing to be protective? DSs 1 and 2 have never had a cold sore.
2. I had horrible herpetic primary infection aged 6 or 7 which v painful gingivostomatitis which made it entirely impossible for me to eat and I could only drink through a straw - still remember it vividly. How likely is he to progress to something more horrible?

In the meantime I am sticking Zovirax cream on it - which he wipes off and then sucks his hand .

I appreciate there are far worse things that can happen healthwise but feel bad for him, feel guilty and would appreciate any advice.

Thanks!

Anyone?

hi there, dont feel guilty its a common infection but i would get him straight to the doctors, it can be serious in young children

my friends boy ended up in hospital with the same thing. i dont want to alarm you, but you need to be on the safe side

hope he is ok x

i am definately not a scientist, or doctor etc>

Thanks, chuffinell, for your concern.
As I wrote above I had a horrible first infection, and have had cold sores on and off ever since.
I am a GP, so know what to look out for, but thanks, really . So far he seems fine - asleep just know, phew!
I was interested in the immunological side of things and was hoping that some sciency people hang out here as well.
I know I will just have to accept that he is likely to have cold sores at times, but bugger, they are such a nuisance!
My mum and I get them, my dad and brother, never. In 15 years DH has not caught them off me, and the other 2 DSs are ok.
I just had this hope that BFing would have kept DS3 safe as well... oh well, .

gawd, cant believe i have just offered a GP health advice....

Don't sweat it - I know I can often do with all the advice I can get ...

If it's his first infection, can antiviral medication help?

Not that I am aware of.. . I suspect he had his primary infection a couple of weeks ago when he had a temperature of over 39C for no apparent reason, no cold, no runny nose, no stomach upset. This was the same kind of time as my bad run of one cold sore after the other.
He does not seem to be at all bothered; it is just me who is clutching at straws, trying to find a way to prevent a life time of recurring frigging cold sores.

So, this is my bump for the evening crowd. Any immunologists out there who fancy dispensing free advice to a perfect stranger in the evening after a hard days' work??

Instead of the zovirax, what about those new patches I've seen advertised recently?

Do you think one might stay on better?

Stick a big plaster over it after putting cream on?

Sorry don't work in any sort of 'ology (unless you count speech path...). Just trying some impractical advice.

DD1 (now 2.5 years) had the primary infection as you describe last November. It was pretty grim but she came through it after 10 days of yogurt and sleepless nights. The associated cold sore didn't appear until right at the end (although she had them inside her mouth from day 2 or something). It began with a fever, then going off food.

She has another cold sore at the moment, and I suspect she'll get them all her life now- but she doesn't seem to have been bothered at all by this one. I haven't put anything on it and it is clearing up after about 2 days.

DP gets cold sores but he didn't have one at the time she developed the primary infection so I guess she picked it up elsewhere. I felt guilty too but in the end you'd be crazy to try and protect them from such things really wouldn't you?!

Hope your son's clears up soon. Not sure I have answered any of your questions, just posted because we've had the same.

Thanks for replies, all.
Yes, DS3 does not seem to be at all bothered. Also, now rather crusty sore blends in quite nicely with his healing abrasions on his forehead and nose after having launched himself off the sofa . I did not even know he could get up there!! Clearly he is doing fine if he can be that adventurous...