Cold Sores In Children

Cold Sores In Children


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Cold Sores in Baby

Cold sores refers to a group of virus diseases that were provoked by a variety of types of the herpes virus. Viral cold sores has polytrophic nature, i.e. virtually any organ in the body can be affected by it. To date, 8 types of cold sores affecting the human body, were identified. Cold sores infects people of different ages, including children. Infection with this virus in the family occurs mainly from ill parents or children.

There are several types of this illness, but children are most commonly exposed to primary cold sores. During the first year, babies become infected with cold sores is not that often, because they are protected by immunity, which was given them by their mothers. At the age of 3-4 years the immune system weakens, however, around the age of 5, 60-80% of kids already have their own antibodies to cold sores.

Types of Cold Sores in Children

Viral Cold sores Simplex Type 1 is the most common type of herpes virus, it appears on the lips of the kid. The symptoms of this disease in addition to the rash can be mild fever, general weakness. Mouth sores often appear in children of the age of 1-2, but the disease can occur in people of all ages, in every season of the year.

The second type of cold sores is genital cold sores, which manifests itself in a similar way to the first type of virus.

The child may become infected with the virus during childbirth, while passing the birth canal, provided that the mother suffers from genital cold sores. Children have this type of cold sores in heavier form than adults, kids can be disturbed by herpetic stomatitis, as well as herpetic angina as well.

The third type of virus is varicella-zoster virus. The first infection of the virus in children provokes chickenpox, while the secondary infection provokes ringworm (or cold sores zoster).

Viral cold sores of the fourth, fifth, and sixth types also can provoke infectious mononucleosis – an acute infectious disease that can cause fever, enlarged liver and spleen, as well as the lymph nodes, sore throat, the emergence of atypical mononuclear cells in the peripheral blood.

Herpes virus of the 6th type can provoke roseola infantum in kids – a disease manifested by a mottled pink papular rash. Normally, this disease affects children under the age of 2. The first symptom is fever, which decreases after about six days, after the rash appears, the size of which is 0.1-0.3 cm, which pales if you press on it (this is one of the main signs of illness, for example, in the case of rubella the precipitation is not paling after pressure). Precipitation may disappear after a couple of hours or can survive up to several days. The rash appears mainly on the body, the neck, the face and the limbs.

Cytomegalovirus is the most common representative of the herpes virus of the 6th type. Cytomegalovirus infects mostly small children, for example, in the kindergarten group. This virus is transmitted upon the contact with an infected person. Kids also can become infected in the womb. Contaminated environment is urine, blood, saliva, as well as other biological substrates. Cytomegalovirus in healthy kids often passes asymptomatically, also manifest symptoms similar to the signs of mononucleosis that pass within a few weeks or days.

The seventh type of herpes virus, when it’s the first infection, provokes exanthema in the newborn. Only a doctor can make an exact diagnosis of the condition of the baby.

Cold Sores in Infants

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Virus in chidren is much more complicated than in adults. This virus is very treacherous and can cause infants serious lesions of the central nervous system and internal organs. If the visual organs were affected by cold sores Phlebothrombosis, keratitis, iridocyclitis and chorioretinitis may occur. If the ENT-organs are affected, cold sores can cause sudden deafness, damage to the inner ear, as well as herpetic angina. If the cardiovascular system is affected, myocarditis and atherosclerosis may occur.

When cold sores infects the central nervous system, then the emergence of encephalopathy and meningitis is possible, and the nerve plexus may be affected too.. Moreover, cold sores can also provoke a depressive disorder, schizophrenia. The damage of the genital system manifests itself with failed reproductive system, prostatitis, ureteritis (in men), endometritis and colpitis (in women).

Symptoms of Cold Sores

Cold sores at kids is manifested with increases in temperature, fatigue, irritability, pain in the muscles. The locations of the future rashes are bothered by itching, burning, pain, tingling. Rash through time turns into sores. Kids often claw rash till it bleeds, regularly touch the sores, often tear off the scabs. As a result, the healing is more difficult difficult and the course of illness is more prolonged.

Cold sores implex, which emerged on the lip of the kid, with a right treatment, can be cured within few days. The sores can also appear in the mouth – on the gums, cheeks, on the front part of the tongue, and on the throat. Cold sores on the gums make them infected, bleeding and red. In addition, the sores can settle down on the neck or chin. Often, the lymph nodes of the neck swell, and it is accompanied by painful sensations.

In kids the cold sores may appear on the mucosa in the form of the gray coating on the tonsils and sores. Due to the fact that the sores are accompanied by painful sensations, meal and water intake can be complicated. If a child has cold sores in his mouth, it is necessary to protect him from receiving firm and a hot meal, as it traumatizes the sores, which may result in prolonged healing for several weeks. So parents should take this under control.

Treatment of Cold Sores in Children

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During the therapy of cold sores normally use antiviral medications, stimulating immunity, as well as interferons. Cold sores should be treated immediately after the first suspicion of the disease because it affects the healing process, because this infection can take recurrent and chronic form, which increases the risk of the possible complications. Therapy of cold sores in children suppresses the symptoms of the illness and its activity. For this purpose they should take antiviral drugs in the form of pills, ointments, which will reduce the itching and pain. Also in the course of treatment they should drink plenty of fluids and take antifebrile medicines if necessary.

Acyclovir is also often used – is an antiviral agent that is used in the form of tablets, as well as intravenous injection. The form of medication depends on the severity of the disease. The dose for intravenous use is 30-60 mg for each kg of the child’s weight, the dose for the oral admission is 90 mg for every kg of weight. The dose should be divided into 3-4 equal parts. Also you can use the medicine in the form of ointments, which you should put on the affected area of the mucosa or skin 4-5 times a day.

Medications, stimulating the immune system, increase the effectiveness of fighting the virus, do not allow viruses to affect new sites of mucous membranes, as well as the internal organs. Immune-boosting drugs, such as groprinosin, arpetol, immunal are also used for the therapy of cold sores.

Interferons are destroying the cold sores viruses and stop them from multiplying. Interferons are used to form of suppositories and pills. Repositories are inserted rectally 2 times a day, for 5 days, the course of treatment is repeated 2-3 times, with a 5-days break.

In the case of frequent relapses of cold sores you need to see an immunologist, who will advise you about improving the weakened immunity of your baby. In addition, the treatment of any type of cold sores in children should be carried out under the supervision of a specialist, who will prescribe medication, and also calculate an effective and safe dosage.

Unfortunately, the viral cold sores stays in the kid’s body throughout his life, occasionally the virus becomes more acute, causing temporary inconvenience. The main goal of parents is to help the kid, following all of the recommendations of the doctor. It is necessary to pay close attention to the hygiene of the kid, he must wash his hands more frequently, have personal towel, soap, etc. The sores in the mouth must not be damaged.

Prevention of Cold Sores in Children

To avoid the infection one must comply with hygiene rules, not use other people's personal belongings, not contact with people infected with cold sores. In addition, in order to increase the immunity function, it is important to have the right diet, take vitamins in autumn and spring, and immune-boosting supplements in prophylactic dosages in winter. You also need to apply antiviral ointments during flu epidemics into the nasal passages twice a day.

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