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Cold Sore Babies
Can my cold sore pass to my baby?
I haven't had a cold sore in years... now I have had 2 back to back and I am worried that I might pass it to my 8 month old baby. I wash my hands well before I change her diaper, and many times throughout the day. But is it passable? What are the chances of her getting it My husband has never gotten one, even after kissing me when I had one (in 10 years of marriage). Is it like a gene you are born with, some get it and some don't??
I am also keeping my lips as far away from the baby as possible (no kissing) and if she does happen to touch my lip I wash her hands.
It's not passed on genetically, but yes you can easily give it to your baby.
Be sure you are washing your hands well, as you say you are already doing. You can also use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer instead of soap and water, as long as there's nothing visibly dirty on your hands.
You're a lot more contagious when you have an outbreak, but technically you can pass the virus anytime. Chances are your husband has been exposed many times, and might have contracted the virus without having any lesions. The best way to avoid passing it will be to avoid kissing the baby.
Dealing With Cold Sores
Cold sores usually start the same way - first a little painful spot under the skin like a blind pimple. Sometimes there's a painful tingling a couple of days before, which is called the prodrome. This usually explodes into a puss-filled blister (or group of blisters) that lasts for a lovely seven to ten days.
Since cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus, they're always going to come back. They're also highly contagious, mostly during outbreaks. Sharing towels, utensils or shaving razors with someone who has an active cold sore is a great way to contract the herpes simplex virus forever. Cold sores are at their most contagious from the time they first appear until they have crusted over completely and are no longer seeping.
Most of the time, cold sores will just clear up on their own. That doesn't mean you can speed up the process with a dose of cold sore cream, but it does mean that there's probably not any reason to go to a doctor for them unless symptoms are incredibly severe, last more than two weeks, or are incredibly frequent. Occasionally, you may also feel irritation in your eyes - seek medical treatment immediately if this happens as herpes simplex can cause scaring in the cornea that results in blindness.
If you have a cold sore, you should be sure to avoid contact with people who have compromised immune systems, like those with cancer or AIDS. You should also avoid contact with babies, as they may contract a more serious infection if they are exposed to the virus.
Antiviral cold sore treatments are available, but are typically most effective if used very early. They can shorten the duration a little. Most cold sore creams are simply soothing and make waiting out the cold sore a little more pleasant.
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