28 Dec, 2008
Cold Sores Children: Fever Blisters Treatment for Kids
Posted by: Linda In: Coldsore|Herpes Sores|Mouth Sores
Cold sores know no age. They attack people of all ages, and children are among the most susceptible to contracting these lip sores, also called fever blisters.
In fact, some doctors say as many as 1 in 5 children will contract Herpes Simplex 1, HSV-1, the virus that causes cold sores.
Luckily, treating cold sores and preventing lip blisters isn’t much different in children than it is in adults.
How to Recognize Cold Sores
Cold sores, unlike other mouth sores, are usually small, red bumps that appear primarily as sores on lips. They can appear inside the mouth, but that is rare. Cold sores can also creep up into the nose and they can cause a lot of pain no matter where they show up.
These fever blisters can last 1-2 weeks, often erupting a few days after a child feels a tingling in their lips. Once the sore grows, it will eventually burst and leak a white fluid. The exposed lip sore will then crust over and last as many as 10 days.
After healing, sores on lips will leave a red mark on the child’s face for as long as a month in some cases.
What Problems Cause Cold Sores in Children?
Just like adults, kids can get HSV-1 from the following:
- Sickness
- Overexposure to Sunlight
- Stress
- Chapped Lips
- Sharing Food or Drink with a Kid Who Has Cold Sores
Read more about what problems cause cold sores.
Fever Blister Treatment for Kids
There is no cure for cold sores, but you can take steps to help heal lip sores more quickly.
Here’s how to take action:
- Make sure the child is getting a balanced diet. Doctors have linked improper diets to contributing to trigger factors in cold sores.
- Give the child foods high in Lysine, a compound known for quickening the lifespan of a lip sore. Foods high in lysine include Chicken, Beans and Fish.
- Apply moisturizer to the cold sore
- Cover sores on lips with a balm
- Acetominophen and Ibuprofen can be given to some children to help ease the pain caused by lip blisters.
Get more cold sore remedies.
Prevent Cold Sores
Cold sores can’t be completely prevented, but kids can reduce the likelihood of a cold sore outbreak.
A simple step would be to make sure child washes his or her hands and face regularly, especially when they are around a child who currently has cold sores.
Get more methods to prevent cold sores.