Cold sores and new borns

This is a subject I obviously feel should talked about, and brought into public awareness more . When my grandson was infected we will never know, it is possible it was in hospital when he was born. It may have been a glancing touch by a staff member, or virus left on something he came into contact with, as he was only three days old when he was blue lighted to Birmingham. It was a very quick actions of one nurse who recognised the urgency of his condition. Yes OldFrill, he is a fighter and we are so proud of him .

gransruleok

Thank you ExDancer, I admit to feeling quite humiliated that so many grans netters assumed I was stupid enough not to know not to kiss a baby when I have a cold sore. And MS wondering how I got to be a great granny without knowing such a thing made me fume, so thank you.

I think you have raised awareness about a very important subject, so don't feel humiliated by judgemental knowitalls.
I don't know what horror story you heard but l would believe it and exercise great caution.
Congratulations on your new great grand child x

Pippa000

My grandson was infected with the cold sore virus as a new born. He spent three months on life support suffering from complete organ failure, and a further six months in hospital and was on the liver transplant list for three years. We are so lucky to have him with us thanks to the amazing staff at Birmingham Children's hospital. He is now 11, still having annual chickens as he's been left with hepatic hypertension. So in reply to your query please please don't go near any baby when you have a cold sore, even touching their skin can spread this horrid virus

Pippa, as I mentioned earlier l nursed a new born with the virus many years ago and l am so glad to hear that your grandson is doing ok. It's an utterly horrific disease.
At least this thread is raising awareness. What a fighter you must have for a grandson x

Predictive text !!!! Not chickens ...... Check ups

My grandson was infected with the cold sore virus as a new born. He spent three months on life support suffering from complete organ failure, and a further six months in hospital and was on the liver transplant list for three years. We are so lucky to have him with us thanks to the amazing staff at Birmingham Children's hospital. He is now 11, still having annual chickens as he's been left with hepatic hypertension. So in reply to your query please please don't go near any baby when you have a cold sore, even touching their skin can spread this horrid virus

Whether you have cold sores or not, I would never dream of kissing a new born baby on the face. Now my grandchildren are teenagers, I give them a big hug. I have never kissed them on their faces even when they were young, It is most unhygienic. I remember our daughter in law thanking me for not kissing our new born grandson on his face when the other grandma and aunts were slobbering over him. Disgusting.

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Absolutely they do. Once caught that virus stays throughout life. No kissing anyone if you have a cold sore .

Many, many years ago l nursed a new born baby, born with herpes (infected during birth from mum). Her internal organs were infected and she died. I will spare you the details but it was unimaginably dreadful. There would/should be better medication these days but yes, infected at, or post, birth can be fatal.

Does exposure to cold sores pose a threat?
This (HSV = Herpes simplex Virus)

Most people with HSV-1 can shed it in their saliva with no symptoms, or they may have a cold sore: a small fluid filled skin blister which breaks open, crusts over, and disappears in about 21 days.
Infected newborns may have mild symptoms at first, such as low grade fever (100.4 degrees F., or more, rectally), poor feeding, or one or more small skin blisters. This can happen two to 12 days after HSV exposure. If any of these occur, notify your doctor immediately.
Newborns can become very sick quickly with high fever and seizures, and may become lethargic (floppy)
HSV infection in newborns can be very severe and can even cause death

You did ask.

Oldbat1

Very dangerous to babies. Even my dentist has a sign in waiting area to say not to attend appointment if you have a new or recent cold sore so obviously easily transmitted even though they wear clinical gloves.

Over the ears I’ve had to cancel several dental appointments because I had a cold sore.

There seems to be 100% agreement - don’t go anywhere near a baby if you have a cold sore and on no account kiss it

Or touch it, or hold it in any way.

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Just say, please don't kiss the baby! As I said earlier, no idea why anyone should be doing so in any case, other than the parents. I don't think I've ever kissed a baby other than my own.

Its not easy stopping someone from kissing your baby, its over in a flash. Looking back many years, I remember our family doctor (remember those?) kissing my son on his forehead when he cried after a routine injection.
I thought nothing of it as I didn't know such horrible risks were associated with a kiss. Obviously neither did our doctor.

Thank you ExDancer, I admit to feeling quite humiliated that so many grans netters assumed I was stupid enough not to know not to kiss a baby when I have a cold sore. And MS wondering how I got to be a great granny without knowing such a thing made me fume, so thank you.

No kissing anybody with a cold sore, obviously
Also a safe distance is recommended

I don't see the need of people (other than parents) kissing a baby.
Love can be demonstrated on many different ways

The risk is that it may pass the herpes virus on to the baby, which virus can cause severe problems including seizures, and may even be fatal if it spreads to the organs, including the eyes, brain, or lungs
Seems clear enough to me.

ExDancer

The OP is NOT asking should you kiss a baby if you have a cold sore!
She wants to know what damage can be done to the baby if someone infects the child with the cold sore virus through kissing it.
Sorry OP I don't know - but I understand it can be fatal, and I imagine the baby would have a very poor immune system.

And quite a few people, myself included, have answered that in detail.

The OP is NOT asking should you kiss a baby if you have a cold sore!
She wants to know what damage can be done to the baby if someone infects the child with the cold sore virus through kissing it.
Sorry OP I don't know - but I understand it can be fatal, and I imagine the baby would have a very poor immune system.

Never ever kiss a baby if you have a cold sore!! They are highly infectious and once the baby developed one he/ she is very likely to keep getting
them!!
Come to think of it why kiss a tiny baby in the first place - cold sore or not? Ok for parents but not sure about anyone else. As for anyone
( including parents!) Kissing a baby or a child on the lips - that is horrific!! and IMO a very definite No No.

I've suffered from cold sores since I was a small child, although I get them rather less often now.

I still got them frequently when DS was born and was little. He didn't catch them.

Of course one should be careful about the possibility of passing the virus on, but common sense should deal with that, without scaremongering. I wouldn't kiss anyone if I had a cold sore.

The risk is that it may pass the herpes virus on to the baby, which virus can cause severe problems including seizures, and may even be fatal if it spreads to the organs, including the eyes, brain, or lungs.

Forgive me, but I’m not asking if you should kiss a baby when you have a cold sore, I’m asking if anyone knows what complications of a serious nature can be caused. Mini moon, you seemed to have knowledge of this, has anyone else got any medical background that would help me?