Cold sores, sometimes called fever blisters, are small fluid-filled blisters typically appearing on the lips and around the mouth. The painful blisters might also appear in the face, cheeks, and nose. Cold sores are caused by herpes simplex virus type 1, with most of the population being infected, normally between the ages of 1-5. The sores normally crust over and heal within a week to ten days.
Symptoms of Cold Sores in Children
Notably, the symptoms of oral herpes differ in children. Especially when the child is exposed to the infection for the first time. The symptoms of viral infection include:
• Fever.
• A change in the appearance of the lips, mouth, nose, and tongue. The lips and mouth might look red and swollen.
• The child might have a hard time swallowing.
• Nausea.
• Headaches.
• Dehydration.
As a parent, it is critical to watch out for these signs and see the pediatrician as soon as possible. There is a need to see a doctor if the sores do not heal within ten days. If the child has experienced frequent sores, it also is a sign to visit the doctor. They will be administered with antiviral medications that will reduce the infection rate in case of an outbreak.
Every parent should be careful to take note of the symptoms in their children. They also need to understand that there might not be symptoms in some children if it is the first time having oral herpes. It would be best that the kid goes for blood testing to get the right diagnosis.
How to Treat the Infection
Even though cold sores will eventually heal by themselves, there are extreme cases that will need medication. Notably, the kind of cold sore treatment given to children varies depending on their age, symptoms, and health. Also, one needs to understand that the infection is not curable; the medication taken is only to help suppress the symptoms.
Significantly, the child starts taking the antiviral medications right after the parent notes any symptoms. However, before they administer any medication, they must consult with the pediatrician about the benefits and the side effects they might have. This will ensure that they do not take prescriptions that might affect the overall health of the child.
A parent can also consider home remedies as a cold sore treatment option. The first is to place a warm or cold cloth on the affected area for at least 20 minutes. This will help reduce the pain that the child is feeling. As stated above, dehydration is one of the symptoms of the condition; one can consider cold smoothies for this. Since the blisters are in the mouth, one should avoid giving acidic drinks or meals. By considering the cold sore treatment options, it is without a doubt that the infection will heal quickly.
How Parents Can Prevent the Infection from Spreading
- To ensure that the blisters do not spread to other body areas, one should refrain the child from scratching the affected area. The kids should also be taught to wash their hands frequently.
- If the child participates in activities that require body contact, it is important to stop them from engaging for a while. It is also vital that all the equipment they use is cleaned often to avoid any contamination.
- In case of an outbreak, it is critical to let the child know that it is wrong to share personal items. It would also be best to wash all the items with warm water as this helps in cleaning off the virus.
- Regularly wash the children’s toys with warm water.
As seen above, the virus that causes cold sores has no cure and will remain in the body forever. Hence, parents need to watch out for some factors that might trigger the infections. Examples of triggers include exposure to too much sunlight, poor diet, dehydration, and injuries that might cause skin damage. Taking care to avoid these triggers will go a long way to ensuring the condition doesn’t recur too often.