Mom Shares Terrifying Photos to Warn Parents After Baby Breaks Out in Cold Sores

From Good Housekeeping

Whether it's a stranger or your mother, one Iowa mom is urging parents to think twice before letting people approach their newborns. When Samantha Rodgers took her 1-year-old to the hospital for an outbreak of red blisters, the doctors' news shocked her. Her son Juliano reportedly tested positive for herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1).

The marks first appeared 10 days ago around the child's mouth, but they soon spread to his hands, neck and stomach, she says. Rodgers then took her son to Blank Children Hospital in Des Moines, where experts first attributed the sores to the flu or Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease. But when they tested the child for HSV-1, the results came back positive.

"It sucks because this is a lifelong problem now," Rogers told KWWL. "It's sad, it breaks my heart and I can't do anything to help him."

While Rogers is correct in that Juliano will always have the virus, it's also not uncommon. More than half of the people in the United States contract HSV-1 by adulthood, and most come across it before they turn 5-years-old, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Not to be confused with genital herpes, HSV-1 is generally harmless. The uncomfortable sores usually heal within two weeks, and while some people may experience more frequent flare-ups, others never develop a cold sore again.

The real danger lies in newborns contracting HSV-1. People with cold sores should not kiss babies under 6 months of age because their immune systems are still vulnerable, the APP warns. The virus is highly contagious and spread through saliva, skin-to-skin contact or sharing objects with someone experiencing an outbreak. In fact, a 3-week-old baby recently died from viral meningitis caused by HSV-1.

Another potential concern is HSV keratitis, when the virus from the cold sores spreads to the eyes, causing an infection of the cornea and potentially blindness. Parents should visit the pediatrician if the sores develop near the eyes, won't heal or come with a blister-like rash or fever. Making an appointment for a child's first cold sore outbreak is also a good idea, according to the AAP.

"All I can say is just be cautious," Rogers told KWWL. "It can be anybody: your best friend, your sister, your brother or your mom ... Everybody needs to wash their hands and sanitize. If you see a cold sore or anything on them, just don't let them come by your baby."

While Juliano's family experienced quite a scare, the baby is recovering quickly. Rogers says he'll be coming home from the hospital soon to finish treatment.

[h/t KPTV]

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