DD7 Yo Getting Cold Sores

Updated on November 05, 2012
L.M. asks from Conneaut, OH
7 answers

neither Dh nor I get coldsores on our lips.

Since she was about 5 she has gotten one or two a year. Her ped isn't friendly about non critical stuff, ( that's another rant) My sister does get cold sores and is heavy duty meds for them.

I'm looking for real life experience with how to prevent and how to heal them, and if I need to worry about her 10 yo brother or anyone else getting them from her.
Thanks

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K.I.

answers from Los Angeles on

Yes you need to worry, they are *very* contagious...no sharing drinks or ANYTHING and especially no touching, when she has one!!!

The best prevention I have found (which really there is no cure or real prevention but) is at the first tingle, which you will have to help her recognize when she feels the tingle, put ICE on the spot for as LOONG as she can possibly stand! Then take it off and repeat ALL day! For me and my 9y/o son (which I am still SO sad about infecting him!!!!) this helps and when caught early enough can sometimes stop the blister from forming, still might be a red spot but sometimes it can stop the blister.

Other than that Abreve works the best for us.

~I get them from stress. I have found that lack of sleep and citrus (OJ) is a trigger for my son and my Mother, who gave them to me when I was little.

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S.R.

answers from El Paso on

It's caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1, so, yes, others in the family can get it, but it's usually only from direct contact. Just don't let your 10 yo touch it in any way. You will also not want to kiss her on the lips if you usually do, because it will get passed to you.

Unless she's just CONSTANTLY getting them, it's really not a big deal. I used to get them when I was a kid, but I don't think I've had one since 8th grade. I just used put carmex on them, but that was before Abreva came out. You might check that out/ask your dr if you could use it on her (she might be too young).

As far as prevention, the only thing I'm aware of is stress reduction. They're triggered by stress (hence the name "cold sore" - stress of illness on the body allows it to pop up). Here's some general info. http://herpes-coldsores.com/cold_sores.htm

ETA: From that page: "It is also possible to transmit virus particles to another person through intermediate objects such as a drinking glass, eating utensil, lip stick, lip gloss, toothbrush, or even a face cloth. "

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A.S.

answers from Dallas on

Once they have had them then they can always pop up again. It is caused by a herpes virus and it can lay dormant and then cause cold sores to pop up in times when the immune system is stressed (general stress or illness). I've had them for about all my life and I have taken several supplements but I still get them. My oldest gets them too whenever she is sick. It's like clockwork - 3 days after she is sick she gets a cold sore. I use Abreva on the cold sore and it lasts about 3 days. When it's painful I use OraJel. In the interim I have taught her to never share cups, utensils when she has one and she's not allowed to give kisses. My pediatrician has suggested using L-lysine vitamins but I can't get her to take the monster sized tablets they come in. I haven't been able to find it in any other form. A good multi-vitamin will work for now.

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S.G.

answers from Grand Forks on

I got cold sores as a kid and still do. They pop up when I am sick, during times of stress and sometimes when I spend too much time in the sun. They are very common and very contagious. I will go a year or two without getting one, then suddenly get two or three in a row. They are very painful and embarrassing. She probably picked it up from kissing a relative who had one, or sharing a drink, sharing lip balm, or blowing a whistle, etc. You ped should have prescribed acyclovir cream (brand name Zovirax) to put on the cold sore at the first sign (tingling). It will not prevent it, but it will shorten the duration. There is also an over the counter product called Abreva that is supposed to help. When she has a cold sore, or feels one coming on you should not kiss her, make sure she uses her own towels and face clothes, and no sharing lip balm, drinks or cutlery etc. Remind her not to touch her cold sore, and to wash her hands with soap and water if she does. Change her toothbrush as soon as it starts to clear up. I find that cleaning the cold sore with a q-tip dipped in peroxide helps. I also find Blistix is soothing when I have one. Make sure to apply stuff with a q-tip rather than contaminate the product. Once you have one cold sore you have them for life. Some people who get them very often will take an oral dose of acyclovir to prevent them.

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D.K.

answers from Sioux City on

Sun really sets them off. Keep sunscreen on the areas that she gets them. She could spread them when she has them. My oldest gets them often. Especially when she forgets to put sunscreen on them. So far none of my other three get them very often. Lysine supplements help but I'm not sure if a 5 year old can take it. My daughter swears that putting a drip of toothpaste on it when they first begin helps. She just leaves the toothpaste on her lips all night.

A.M.

answers from Kansas City on

if your ped isn't real communicative about it and you don't have them, are you sure they're not canker sores? we get them in my family. you can cut your lip or tongue or gum and get an ulcer there.

and oh yeah - switch ped's!

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A.C.

answers from Dayton on

I feel your pain! I didn't get a cold sore until I was 31! I got it from my 12month old son, who got it from my mother-in-law. I did a lot of online research to find ways to treat them, without taking the oral medication, to make sure it was safe for my son. Here is what works for me:

I use L-Lysine and vitamin C. I take the supplements daily, but you could probably take them if you know one is on the way, or at the first sign. I've used this for the past three years and have only gotten an outbreak when I've forgotten to take the supplements for a few days before a time that causes them, i.e. a bad cold or around my monthly.

Use ice when the outbreak is starting. This will reduce the swelling, and can shorten its lifespan. I use ice for hours on end, as long as I can feel the 'fever' on my lip. For topical I use vitamin E, a chapstick with Neem Oil or a homeopathic lotion by Peaceful Mountain called Cold Sore Rescue. The latter has a bit of an orange color to it, which will look kind of strange as it dries, and has a nice herbal scent. Lemon balm and vitamin C is especially helpful for cold sores. The E, and chapsticks help keep the sore from splitting open and taking longer to heal.

As far as someone else in your family getting cold sores, keep in mind she's pretty much always contagious on some level, just more so during an outbreak. Some people have better immunity to the virus than others. I'd keep the children from sharing eating and drinking utensils & encourage cheek kissing. The good thing is that as you age, the frequency gets less. Good luck!

P.S. If you're worried about the size of the L-Lysine pills (and they are BIG) grind one up with a mortar and give a portion of it to her in her food.

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