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Original poster

Herpes Virus - Anyone know anything?

36 replies

Flamesparrow · 07/02/2007 13:00

DS (11 months) had all sores in his mouth a fortnight ago - told it was herpes virus, given medicine, all healed.

Coldsore proper has now come out on his mouth, pharmacist told me to go back to GP (which I will be later today).

BUT... went to change his nappy just now and his foreskin is looking sore and just plain odd (sort of lifeless looking at the end - like when you've had a deflated blister).

Are we thinking this is the herpes virus transferred from his mouth to his boy bits?!?! If it is, he's screwed isn't he? He'll have it there on and off for life?

I don't want girls thinking my boy is some diseased guy, or him passing it on to whoever he does end up with long term (yes, I know he's not 1 yet but I am worrying).

OP posts:
Original poster
Flamesparrow · 07/02/2007 13:01

Can it transfer from mouth to bits, or is it a different strain(?sp) - like warts etc.

OP posts:
florenceuk · 07/02/2007 13:09

Well it can transfer from mouth to bits, but only if there is contact e.g. oral sex. So I suspect it is not the virus - highly unlikely anyway. If he'd had it there I think you would have noticed - would have been very sore anyway.

Rhubarb · 07/02/2007 13:11

Cold sores can be transferred very easily, by towels, sponges etc.

Google genital herpes and see what it comes up with.

LaylaandSethsmum · 07/02/2007 13:12

It is the same strain and as florenceuk said it can be transferred but normally via close contact ie; blister to skin contact.If it turns out to be herpes then it doesn't mean he will ever get it there again it may well just lay dormant.

ledodgy · 07/02/2007 13:13

I'm sure I read that if you get cold sores on your mouth (think it'as the HS1 strain or something) then you are likely to be immune to genital herpes.

Original poster
Flamesparrow · 07/02/2007 13:16

I found this on NHS direct

"However, it is not possible to pass the same virus from one area of your body to another, e.g. from your face to your genitals. Similarly, if a herpes infection passes from the cold sores on your partner's face to your genitals, it will not be possible for the infection to transfer to your partner's genitals."

which sounds promising... but I am baffled as to how it works like that!

His bum has been a bit sore for alittle while, but with all the medication for his mouth, being low etc, I just put it down to nappy rash.

He quite often wanders round nappyless so fingers in sore mouth -> playing with boy bits is entirely likely.

OP posts:
mustrunmore · 07/02/2007 13:17

And even if it is, it apparently gets less and less frequent with each breakout, and less sore each time. I think its about a 20% chance of only getting it the once too.

But I thought it looked like a big red sore bit? So unless you mised that stage, maybe it isnt that at all?

ledodgy · 07/02/2007 13:20

Flamesparrow I think it's because once you have the herpes virus in one form ie mouth form in your body it makes you immune to getting the other genital form iyswim.

Rhubarb · 07/02/2007 13:20

Here is a fact sheet about it.

ledodgy · 07/02/2007 13:21

God knows what my dp will think when he sees i've been googling genital herpes!

Original poster
Flamesparrow · 07/02/2007 13:23

I think i've been googling too much

Brain is now at the stage of diagnosing everything under the sun

I will give him a bath, get him to the doctors, and let them do their job.

Thank you for all your help

OP posts:
ledodgy · 07/02/2007 13:24

They can spread from the mouth to the eye though so if the blister is still fresh and not crusted over try to prevent him from touching it then his eye (a nightmare with an 11 month old though!)

2boysmacca · 07/02/2007 14:22

Could he now have thrush from all the antibiotics he's been taking?

Original poster
Flamesparrow · 07/02/2007 14:27

No appointments and a "duty doctor will phone"... cos they will be able to see so much down the phone I have a feeling half the time the duty doc just says to go in anyway...

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funkimummy · 07/02/2007 14:27

Hmmm could be thrush. That would explain a lot. My sister had thrush in her mouth as a baby. Red blister type sores with like a cottage cheese look in her mouth.

Original poster
Flamesparrow · 07/02/2007 14:54

Would the herpes meds have healed thrush?
He has been on aciclovir and that is all

OP posts:
funkimummy · 07/02/2007 14:57

Not sure what that medication is. if it's an antibiotic, then no, definitely not, it would only make it worse.

Thrush has to be treated with a fungicidal medicine.

Original poster
Flamesparrow · 07/02/2007 15:13

Just looked it up -antiviral specifically for herpes simplex.

Doc called - the same guy I saw in the first place with him... seeing him at 5.15

OP posts:
funkimummy · 07/02/2007 15:16

Let us know how you get on

xx

Original poster
Flamesparrow · 07/02/2007 19:18

Back...

Not a lot of confidence with the doctor!!!

He says it looks like herpes - but that he has never seen it in one so young... asked about reoccurrence - because he is so young his body will attack it all and there not be an issue ... followed by "not seen it in one so young before"... followed by "we'll take a swab just to check"... "You can phone for results in a couple of days - if it comes back negative, it doesn't mean its not it, it could just be not enough sample".

Hands up who feels confident that he knows what he's talking about?!?!

Anyway - back on the meds, and barrier cream for bits (sores over more of him by the time we got there )

OP posts:
2boysmacca · 07/02/2007 19:28

ouch

PhilG · 07/02/2007 20:50

Can you remember anyone with a cold sore kissing him or has he used a towel recently used by someone with an active sore? The virus can pop up in different locations if the infection is new. Could be transferred by a cloth which had touched the virus, but this all sounds very unlikely, esp as you are with him all the time. Did the Dr swab or is this visual diagnosis?

PhilG · 07/02/2007 20:52

Just an after thought - didDr tell you sort of herpes - zoster or I or II. If Zoster its chicken pox which is more likely that type I or II in a child.

Original poster
Flamesparrow · 07/02/2007 21:07

He took a swab in the end - so far it had been based on a visual diagnosis from a fortnight ago when he had a mouth full of blisters

Its me he got it from in the first place - I had a cold sore, we co-sleep a lot of the time (because he seems to be under the impression that he must be touching me to sleep ), and I guess he got it at some point then.

The transfer is from hands in mouth, then hands fiddling with himself

OP posts:
PhilG · 07/02/2007 21:10

Like an earlier writer said - he may never have another bout again. Fingers crossed and don't beat yourself up if it is.