My toddler has the cold sore virus in his mouth!

[Novacane]

Has anyone come across this before?

DS (3) started with a croaky voice on Monday, and on Tue night we saw a couple of blisters in his mouth.
Took him to the Dr's yesterday and he thinks he has the cold sore virus in his mouth. (from looking on the internet its the primary infection of the coldsore.)
He has been prescribed anti -virals (Aciclovir).
The Dr said it was quite common for toddlers to get it but he hasn't seen it for a while!

Does anyone know what the anti virals are for? Does it mean he has a bad infection (I thought anti virals were only prescribed to immunocompromised/poorly/at rixk people)

And is it really that common?

Both DP and I have never had a coldsore and don't carry the virus as far as we know.

Confused!

TIA.

I believe that the first time young ones get a cold sore virus it manifests as mouth ulcers rather than the more usual sore around the mouth or nose . this certainly happened with my eldest daughter but we didn't notice it with the younger .could havr got it from anyone .They can be painful and you don't want to spresd it so dr is giving anti-virals to try to limit the length of the attack . it is a virus not bacteria. I am a pharmacist, have come across this a few times. hope it helps

I believe everyone has the coldsore virus, but it just lays dormant in some people. DD had exactly the same. She was 4 at the time and I can remember it being so painful for her she could barely eat. On the up side, we did manage to get rid of the bedtime bottle, because she couldn't suck it!

Unfortuantely, he will be suseptable to them now, the trick is to try to work out whats triggering them. Its not just certain foods either. DD always gets hers after she's been ill, so we can be ready with the cream.

You need to be careful that if he gets one on his skin, to keep it very clean. They can turn into impetigo if you're not careful and unfortuantley you can't expect a toddler to understand not to touch with dirty fingers etc.

Hope he feels better soon.