Cold sore rule you must follow around newborn babies or it could prove fatal

Cold sore rule you must follow around newborn babies or it could prove fatal For most adults, cold sores can usually be a bit painful but are a common infection. However in newborn babies, whose immune systems are not yet fully developed yet, HSV can cause a life-threatening illness After one heartbroken mother opened up this week about her baby dying from a cold sore, an NHS doctor has shared the viral rule everyone should follow around newborns. Meg Edmonds' daughter Magnolia died aged just 10 days back in February after contracting the herpes simplex virus (HSV), and it is suspected the virus may have been passed on by her mother. For most adults, cold sores can usually be a bit painful but are a common infection. However in newborn babies, whose immune systems are not yet fully developed yet, HSV can cause a life-threatening illness. Cold sores are small, fluid-filled blisters that usually appear on or around a child's lips, chin, or cheeks. They are caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 (HSV-1), which is extremely common and easily spread among children through close contact. HSV-1 spreads through direct skin-to-skin contact such as kissing or touching. It can also spread through shared items like utensils, towels, water bottles, and toys. The first time a child contracts HSV-1, the symptoms can be more intense. It may cause painful sores inside the mouth and gums (gingivostomatitis), high fever, and swollen lymph nodes. After the initial infection, the virus stays dormant in the nerve cells. It can reactivate later into a typical cold sore, triggered by stress, illness/fever, sun exposure, fatigue, or cold weather. Talking about cold sores in young children, NHS GP Dr. Shruti Nathwani took to her Instagram page to share a reel where the overlay text read, 'The no kissing the newborn rule isn't just for adults. Big brothers and sisters can get cold sores too.' Providing more information in the caption, she wrote: "Children can get cold sores (HSV-1) too and in young children, a first HSV infection doesn’t always look like the classic single cold sore. "It can cause multiple painful mouth ulcers, red or swollen gums, fever and difficulty eating or drinking, known as herpetic gingivostomatitis. "With children back to nursery and school it’s important that we’re aware of how to protect a newborn at home. "For most healthy older children and adults, HSV-1 causes a relatively minor, self limiting illness.In a newborn, it can be very different." Dr Nathwani said that neonatal herpes is "rare but potentially very serious" and can affect the skin, eyes and mouth, the brain and central nervous system, or spread to multiple organs. "Around 10% of neonatal HSV infections are thought to be acquired after birth and a recognised route is being kissed by someone with an active cold sore," she said. The doctor said that if a sibling, parent, grandparent or visitor has a cold sore, they shouldn't kiss the baby until it is completely healed and should also wash their hands carefully before touching the baby. The GP said anyone with a cold sore should also avoid touching it and then touching the baby and should cover cold sores where possible. According to the NHS, babies are thought to be most vulnerable during the first six weeks of their life. The doctor noted you 'shouldn't assume every mouth ulcer is a cold sore', as there are lots of other causes. However, she said that if there’s a newborn at home, it's best to avoid kissing kissing them and seek medical advice if you’re concerned. She also highlighted the fact that neonatal herpes doesn’t always cause obvious blisters. "If a young baby with possible HSV exposure becomes unwell, including poor feeding, unusual sleepiness or irritability, fever, breathing difficulties, seizures, or sores on the skin, eyes or mouth, seek urgent medical help and mention the possible HSV exposure," she said. Symptoms and stages of cold sores in babies 1. Early warning signs (Day 1-2) Unlike older kids who can explain tingling, babies show early distress through behavioural changes, such as - Fussiness and irritability: Unexplained crying or refusal to be put down. - Poor feeding: Reluctance to latch, suck on a bottle, or swallow due to oral discomfort. - Low-grade fever: A mild fever and swollen lymph glands under the jaw often develop before any skin mark appears. 2. Blister formation (Days 2-3) - Small, red, raised bumps appear around the mouth, lips, chin, or gums. - Rapidly fill with clear fluid, forming clusters of delicate blisters on a red, inflamed base. 3. Rupture and oozing (Days 4-5) - The fluid-filled blisters burst open, leaving shallow, open sores. - This is the most painful and contagious phase. The baby may drool excessively, refuse fluids completely, and show signs of severe pain. 4. Crusting and scabbing (Days 5-8) - The open sores dry out and form yellow or brown crusty scabs. - The risk of secondary bacterial infection rises if the baby rubs or scratches the scabs. 5. Healing (Days 9-14) - The scabs flake off, leaving fresh red or pink skin underneath. - Skin heals completely without permanent scarring as long as scabs remain unpicked. General cold sore symptoms to watch for in infants A primary HSV-1 infection in an infant often causes herpetic gingivostomatitis; a more widespread infection inside the mouth rather than just a single lip blister. Key signs include: - Swollen, bleeding gums: Gums become bright red and bleed easily during feeding. - Internal mouth ulcers: Painful sores scattered across the tongue, roof of the mouth, or inner cheeks. - Excessive drooling: Difficulty swallowing leads to constant drooling.Fever: Body temperature spiking above 38C. Urgent red flags to look for In infants under 4 to 6 weeks old, the immune system cannot isolate the virus, making HSV exposure a medical emergency. Seek immediate emergency medical care if a baby shows any of these signs: - High fever or abnormally low body temperature (Systemic infection) - Extreme lethargy or difficulty waking up (Potential CNS involvement or sepsis) - Rapid breathing or grunting (Respiratory distress) - Sores near or in the eyes (Risk of herpes keratitis (corneal damage)) - Dehydration (No wet diapers for 8+ hours, dry mouth, crying without tears) (Inability to take in adequate fluids)