Herpes, Cold Sores, and Canker Sores
Berkeley Parents Network >
Advice >
Advice about Health >
Herpes, Cold Sores, and Canker Sores
March 2007
My period resumed about 14 months into nursing my toddler, which was fine.
But the third month it was back, I had a herpes outbreak right before my
period, which was not so fine. I've had herpes for nearly 20 years, and
hadn't had an outbreak for the last 8 years or so. Also, for years I only
had a single sore, always in the same location (the virus traveled down the
same nerve each time), but this time I had multiple sores in a totally
different place.
I can't help but wonder if there's a connection between the hormonal upheaval
of resuming ovulation after breastfeeding and the return of the herpes.
Anyone have a similar experience? Can I expect more frequent outbreaks now?
Will it stick to the new location or move around even more? My OB-GYN has
zero curiosity as to why the disease has changed in nature, so I turn to you.
anon please!
My youngest is 2 years old & like you, I did start having my
outbreaks about a year after he was born. I truly think it's
just the stress of motherhood. Before my kids I would only break
out maybe once a year, now it's every month. I noticed that I
get them right before my period & now for each & every little
thing. I'm just kind of think that our bodies are tired all of
the time. Being a mom & working I know that I'm getting less
rest & let's face it, being a mom IS stressful wether we think
it or not. But maybe our bodies have changed due to pregnancies
because I never had outbreaks when my period is coming but now
it's like clock work, it keeps me aware when it's coming now.
And yes, it use to be in one place & now I will get them
everywhere. Not just having the consent discomfort but it's a
bearing on my relationship as well. Having so many outbreaks now
sex is like on the back burner. SO all I can say is, take some
time out for yourself. I have started doing that & I noticed a
little difference. I just can't see myself taking that pill
everyday for the rest of my life so I opt not to do that. My
spouse is unhappy about that, but that's only because he's not
getting what he wants. But like I said, get massages & get some
ME time. You may not think you need it, but your body is telling
you different. Good luck! I wish they would find a
cure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ANON
While I can't help you with the return of your period, I'm in
menopause, I can offer some advice regarding the Herpes. I have
had Herpes since I was 12 (first outbreak). This went on until I
was 28, at which point i read a study done by the Linus Pauling
Institute. They recommended Vit. C with Lysine every day, and
if you have a bad outbreak take it several times a day. We were
going to Mexico, I got sunburnt, had severe breakout all over
both lips...started on the C and Lysine and the outbreak went
away within a week. This made me a believer and ever since I
have sworn by C & Lysine. I take 500mg per day. I am now in my
50's and can honestly say that in all this time I have probably
had no more than 4 outbreaks, and I attribute those to when I
got complacent and quit, or was under big time stress. Since I
have Herpes one I do not know if this will work on Herpes II,
but it won't hurt to try.
know the feeling
Me too! Not exactly the same, but similar numbers - about 15 yrs
with herpes, always in same place except during pregnancy (one
outbreak) and then recently (2 yrs post partum) - and I've had
some really bad outbreaks over the last few months. They do seem
to be mellowing out again. I am guessing part of it is due to
the tired/run down factor. But I am sure pregnancy/breast
feeding has changed things.
lk
I can't answer your questions, but can refer you to a San
Francisco support group for people with herpes. It's run by very
knowledgable medical professionals who hopefully could help you.
I've attended in the past, and it's very, well, supportive.
They may be willing to talk with you outside of the support group
meeting, also. Here is info about the next meeting, and contact
information:
San Francisco HELP Group Meeting
Date: Wednesday April 18, 2007
Time: 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Repeat: This event repeats every month on the third Wednesday.
Location: St. Mary's Hospital
Street: 450 Stanyan St., 3-East Conf. Room, San Francisco, CA
City/State/Zip: email: HELP_SF[at]yahoo.com for more info
or email HELP_SF[at]yahoo.com for more info.
Have questions about herpes? Or do you want to support others who
have been newly diagnosed? Then please attend a meeting of San
Francisco HELP - a confidential support group meeting for people
with genital herpes. If you're new and not quite up to mingling
at a social event, this is a great first step. If you're a
veteran, it's a great way to support newcomers and keep up with
the latest information.
3rd Wednesday of every month at 7:30 PM
St. Mary's Hospital, 3-East Conf. Room
Near GG Park/Panhandle/Haight-Ashbury
Take Elevators to 3rd Floor, room is across from elevators.
--Wishing you well.
I've had herpes since age 26 (am now turning 50). Yes, there
is some connection between periods and outbreaks. I also have
friends with this weird virus who report that they also tend to
have an outbreak prior to their period. I've noticed that
stress brings it on, lack of sleep, especially late nights, is
bad (got to be asleep before 11:00!), alcohol, caffeine and
spicy hot food are all no-no's for herpes sufferers. I also
had the the experience of breaking out in different parts of my
body than where it originally started. BTW-- I was exposed to
this by a boyfriend who had a lot of stress in his life and he
would get ''cold sores'' in his mouth. No one at the time (1984)
seemed to know that the virus could be passed to the
genital/buttocks area. Anyhow, I have found a wonderful
Chinese acupuncturist who has done wonders to help me manage
this nasty and annoying affliction. She's in Petaluma, but
it's been worth it. Don't know what I'll do should she retire.
managing in Marin
My Herpes had been mostly in remission for over 10 years with only a n
occasional minor outbreak. This was great news in terms of pregnancy and
child birth because I could have a normal birth. After my duaghter was born I
was still free of outbreaks. My period came back when my daughter was almost
a year old. I was still free of outbreaks and horrible migraines too. I nursed my
duaghter for 3 1/2 years. After my duaghter was weaned I started to notice
huge mood swings and terrible depression. I started getting really bad
migraines. I decided to go on Prozac. It helped with everything, except I started
getting regular herpes outbreaks, once a month and in more places
than before. At first I attributed it to the Prozac. I had stop taking it and
eventually the outbreaks cleared up and now I hardly ever get them again. My
duaghter is now 6 1/2 years old and I'm 46 and I'm starting to experience
another hormonal change and I'm getting migraines again every month. After
reading your post and other replies and looking back at my situation, I would
have to say that the herpes outbreaks I experienced after I my duaghter was
weaned were definitely related to the change in hormones that occur after
weaning. The outbreaks came right before every menstral period. I don't think
it had anything to do with the Prozac. My Docter didn't think it did either at the
time. But your body does usually level out again. Mine did. I'm currently
outbreak -free, although now I'm having to deal with the whole menopausel
stuff. It will be interesting to see if the herpes outbreaks come back again.
Anon
Sometimes medications can increase the incidence of herpes outbreaks. I am a
medical provider and 2 of my patients got much more severe outbreaks when they
were on Zoloft and when they went off Zoloft the outbreaks decreased dramatically.
anon
Oct 2006
I get canker sores in my mouth frequently - typically, when I'm
tired or stressed. Does anyone know of any good/safe products
to treat them - over the counter, holistic or prescription -
for a quick and less painful experience? I've tried many
things - but typically just have to let them take their
course..Many thanks!
Anon
I have the exact same problem. In addition to stress, I find canker
sores can develop if I bite my lip while eating.
If I discover a sore early, I rinse with mouthwash 2x/day. The sore
usually retreats without becoming big and painful. If I discover the
sore late, the mouthwash is not as effective, but I use it anyway. It
might be smart to use mouthwash every day as a profilactic measure to
stop new sores anon
I saw a dentist about this when they got so bad; I was extremely tired
and stressed and that's when they come back. He recommended Vitamin B
supplements, especially because I'm vegetarian. Also I find it happens
when i've had way too much sugar and my immune system is lowered. So I
cut down/out sugar & caffeine, drink lots of water, eat dark green leafy
veg, take vit B, vit C, and REST..
been there with you
I used to have the same problem. My dentist suggested using toothpastes
without sodium lauryl sulfate. This is an inactive ingredient which
irritates the sore and is found in most toothpastes. Two brands I have
found without it: Rembrandt makes a special toothpaste for canker sores,
which is very expensive, but works. Also Sensodyne- one of the flavors,
maybe original? I used to read all of the ingredients on every tube of
toothpaste, but thankfully, I no longer have this problem, so there may
be other brands out there without it. Anyway, this definately helped me.
good luck
anon
I have found that rinsing/gargling with very salty water, as hot as
you can stand it, really helps. Also, dabbing hydrogen peroxide directly
on the canker sore full strength seems to help too. Drip a few drops on
the sore from a q-tip, let it bubble for a minute or two, then rinse
your whole mouth out with warm water.
However, i have also found that certain foods seem to trigger the
sores--if I eat a lot of chocolate, have a lot of orange juice, or too
many tomatoes, I tend to get a canker sore soon afterwards.
Since the virus that causes these is (I think) in the same family as the
viruses that cause chicken pox, shingles, and cold sores, lysine (an
amino acid) should help prevent them, too. Corn is high in lysine--or
you can get it inexpensively in the supplement store (I get mine at
Trader Joe's). It is worth a try. Best wishes!
elizabeth
Once when I caught hand, foot and mouth from my infant and had
unbelievably awful lesions in my throat my sister recommended gargling
with equal amounts of a malox and children's benadryl (mixed together).
It worked wonders! It just sort of coats the open areas and deadens
them. So perhaps that might work for you...just gargle and spit - don't
swallow Hope that Helps!
Whenever I get canker sores in my mouth, I use an herbal powder found in
Chinese herbal stores called Watermelon Frost. The ingredients are
written in Chinese, which infortunately I cannot read, but I've used it
since I was a little girl and swear by it. You apply right onto the sore
at nighttime before bed until the sore goes away. It has a bitter taste
to it but it really shortens the healing process!! Good luck!!
here's a picture of how it looks...(I did a serch and found
this) http://www.theearthhealthclinic.com/product.php?
xProd=49&xSec=207
Hope this helps!
g_doi
This is about the ''watermelon frost'' cure for canker sores. I admit I
am a horrible skeptic. However, it made me nervous that the person
using ''watermelon frost''
could not read the ingredients--not that it would make a big difference
in the case below. I suggest great caution and care with herbal cures.
There I have said it, and I will add to my crime by saying that I in
fact have lived in China and would never use Chinese medicine. I have
looked up previous ''cures'' before and the ingredients can be
horrifying, including major steroids and so on that are perfectly
''natural'' in
plants. And of unknown dosage in the ''medicines''. So I looked up
Watermelon
frost in the scientific literature and this is what I have found, just
from a brief search and the first scientific article I found:
''Mercury intoxication presenting with tics'' by Albert M Lia, Michael H
M Chanb, T F Leunga, Robert C K Cheungb, Christopher W K Lamb, T F Foka,
Archives of Disease in Childhood 2000;83:174
''The ''Watermelon Frost'' that our patient took contained 878 ppm of
mercury, mainly in the inorganic form. Although methylmercury
constituted only 2% of total mercury in the CMH [Chinese Medicinal Herb]
preparation, the content was 18 times the action level of mercury in
food as proposed by the Food and Drug Administration.''
''Owing to the extensive modifications of drug formulations and chemical
extraction from an expanding range of natural products, more cases of
adverse reactions have been reported in recent years. Even batches of
CMH [Chinese Medicinal Herbs] from the same manufacturer may contain
variable amounts of active or potential toxic ingredients, as
illustrated by our case. Though still relatively rare, heavy metal
poisoning with CMH should always be suspected if a previously healthy
child develops unusual symptoms, especially those involving the central
nervous system.''
concerned skeptic
I know this is wrong because I forgot the name of the product I use, but
you should be able to get it at any store. It's a paste & the tube says
for canker sores. I'm trying to picture how the tube looks, which is bad
because I need some more myself. But it works GREAT. It's like a paste &
I usually put it on the sore at night when I'm on my way to bed so that
you are not talking. In the morning it's gone. You can use it throughout
the day, but then if you talk you might taste it & it has a funny pasty
feel.
I'm sorry I don't know the name but just go to longs or walgreens & look
at them & see if you can open a few, maybe a pharmacist can open it or
tell you which one has a pasty white cream anon
I tried everything over the counter and most stuff just didn't work for
me. But, I have found three things that did work:
1) I switched to sensodyne toothpaste (the regular toothpaste has a
detergent that is abrasive - dentist recommended this
change)
2) use Amosan by Oral-B (also recommended by the dentist)
3) the best topical ointment I have found is 'bonjela' but I bought it
in the UK -- it works wonders for me.
I have been virtually canker sore free for an entire year, which is a
miracle since I got them every month before trying the above anon
I suffer from canker sores often too - usually from stress or biting my
lip. I know how painful they can be. I always used Oral-B/Kanka or
similar in the past to numb the pain, but I had a negative reaction to
the benzocaine the last time (my entire lip swelled) so I can't use it
anymore. Something to try is a mouth rinse called Rincinol. It is not
the best tasting, but it does not contain medication and forms a
protective film. It doesn't take away the pain totally, but it is a
huge relief! It is also safe to swallow. Another thing to try is a
mixture of equal parts of pepto bismol and milk of magnesia. Swish and
spit, but also safe to swallow. A pediatrician recommended this for my
sister when she developed them on her tongue. This mixture is often
used in combination with lidocaine in cancer patients, who get the sores
all the way down their esophagus.
It's called BML (lidocaine is RX only). I also read where an ingredient
in many commercial toothpastes can make you more susceptible - it is
recommended to use a toothpaste such as Tom's Natural Anticavity
toothpaste or Rembrandt Canker Sore toothpaste. these do not contain
the ingredient (I think it's sodium laurel sulfate, but can't be sure).
Hope one of these helps! Good luck to you!
Vanessa
I suffered from frequent canker sores for many years and recently
discovered that they were due to a food allergy (gluten in my case).
Mine came frequently, were very painful, and took a long time to heal
(sometimes weeks). If this sounds familiar, you may want to consider
whether something you're eating is causing the outbreaks.
I do not find OTC medications very helfpul. Dentists apparently can
prescribe something more potent, but I never tried. Some things that
helped to some degree
include: brushing teeth frequently to keep the mouth clean, but avoiding
toothpastes that contain sodium lauryl sulfate; avoiding tomatoes,
oranges, peaches; eating plain yogurt; washing mouth with salt water
several times each day Finally sore-free
A huge help has been Rembrant Canker Sore toothpaste. They claim that it
takes care of 80% of canker sores according to studies, and I would say
that is true for me. I forget the name of the canker-sore causing
ingrediant (lauryl sulfate maybe?) that is in almost all other
toothpaste, but this Rembrant formula doesn't have it. You can
definitely get it at the Walgreens on 51st and Telegraph in Oakland, or
online. The true lifesaver, though, has been Triamcinolone Acetonide
Dental Paste USP, 0.1%. It was first recommended to me by a doctor who
suffered from canker sores in medical school; do whatever is necessary
to get some as it takes care of a lot of the pain overnight. Finally, my
mom has had luck with taking folic acid daily too hope this helps
http://www.tagnet.org/spiritquest/CANKER.htm
Worked out great for me
Anonymous
Try black licorice, the stronger the better. It numbs the area (your
whole mouth, really) and seems to help them go away faster. Try not to
get something with too much sugar since that just hurts Anon
Hi there,
I was a total martyr to cold sores until recently, and I am thrilled to
tell you that I went from at least one outbreak a month to maybe one
every six months. I was doing research online about it (honestly I would
get like three or four in my mouth at once, and man, did they HURT, it
sucked, my glands would swell up in my neck, I couldn't eat...you know
the drill) and discovered that Sodium Laurel Sulfate, which is an
ingredient in most toothpastes can sometimes cause them. I switched to a
toothpaste called, believe it or not, Squigle, and they pretty much went
away. I cannot begin to tell you what a relief this has been for me. The
other product I found that really helped when I do get the odd one now
is called Ora 5. It tastes like crap, but it makes them go away in a day
or so. There's a website called www.dentist.net that sells both the
toothpaste and the yucky effective medicine, and other stuff besides for
canker sores. Good luck!
Abbi
I have a LOT of experience
with them (35+yrs). I have been plagued with them since about the age
of 10. One time I had 9 all at one time!!!
Some how, many years ago, I was turned onto a B vitamin that is a true
miracle - Pentothenic Acid. I have often taken it every day (for years
at a time) to prevent them. I am back on it again and if I don't take
it religously every day then after about a week I can feel one coming
on.
Pentothenic Acid is a simple B vitamin, expelled in the urine.
It can be taken daily even at high doses with no side effects.
Currently, for prevention, I take 250mg/day. If I miss several days and
feel one comming on, or if I miss long enough to get one, I take 250mg
3x/day (5x/day for the last sore that was particularly long and
painful).
I swear by this 1000% and would never live with out Pen. Acid.
But, there was a couple of months about 7 yrs ago that I was under more
stress than could have previously imagined and the sores became a
constant again. So I looked in a health-food store book - Prescription
for Nutritional Healing (2nd
edition) - and found a list of other things to add: Zinc lozenges (do
not exceed recomended dosage)(helped a lot), B complex 100 3x/dy, folic
acid (400mcg/dy), vit C (5000mg/dy), vit A 10,000iu/dy (do some research
on dosages). The book has more to consider adding, along with more
information.
With all this said, once you actually get a sore, it just has to run its
coarse (usually 7-10 days or more). Then Pen. Acid helps with the pain,
though last time I relied heavily on Anbesol several x/dy, especially
before and after every meal.
Hope this helps -
Margaret
Nov 2005
I was wondering if anyone has any experience with cold sores in
their children's mouth. My daughter who is almost three years
old has two cold sores on her tongue, one of which is very
large. She is really in a lot of pain and won't eat due to the
cold sores. I've been able to get her to eat some oatmeal and
yogurt, which was a challenge unto itself, but that is about
it. She says drinking from a sippy cup hurts as does drinking
from a straw (which blew my plan to give her a protein drink).
I bought some over the counter medicine from the drug store
that can be used on children 2 years old and up although she
hates the taste and therefore won't open her mouth to let me
put it on. Basically she cries and whines for a good portion
of the day telling me her tongue hurts.
Any suggestions or advice would be welcome. My heart breaks for
my little girl and I feel as if there is nothing I can do to
make her feel better. Thanks.
LT
Your daughter might have foot and mouth disease. My boss' two kids ( 2
and infant age) just recently had this ailment and she told me that it
was running rampant through the girl's daycare...I'm not completely
familiar with all of the symptoms but I do believe that blisters in the
mouth is one...
anon
I have plenty of experience with my own cold sores.
When my immune system is down, I tend to get cold sores, swollen gums,
achey teeth. I have food allergies, so eating too much sugar, wheat,
dairy, not getting enough sleep, over stressed, all these things can
bring on cold sores for me.
Maybe I have a form of herpes,I've never checked it out.
Also yeast overgrowth in the system can cause cold sores.
You may want to look at what your daughter is eating....is it possible
she has a wheat, or yeast sensitivity?
Good luck...poor kid, it definately doesn't feel good.
Cool liquids help me.
anon
You should consult with your pediatrician - I think there are a couple
of things it could be - herpes virus, which causes cold sores, or
Coxsackie virus which causes foot and mouth disease.
Our son had herpes virus sores in his mouth when he was 2. He would not
eat or drink, he cried and cried, and he screamed when we tried to look in
his mouth. I actually didn't see the sores - I thought he must have an
impacted tooth and that's why we took him to the doctor. She showed us
that there were
a bunch of little red sores all over his tongue and on the inside of
his mouth. The pediatrician prescribed an oral pain killer and this
helped enormously, and the sores eventually went away after 4 or 5 days.
During that time, though, I basically held him in my lap 24/7 and we
watched movies to keep his mind off the pain.
I think this is
common in young children - most of us adults had it when we were
young - and it is very contagious.
Ginger
My daughter is now 17, but when she was little she often would get
multiple, painful sores in her mouth, especially on her tongue. When she
was eight and began to see an orthodontist, the suggestion was made that
we try Crest Toothpaste instead of the Colgate we had been using
forever. Guess what? No more cold sores. Go figure. So, I would suggest
looking at your toothpaste. More important, ask your dentist or doctor
for advice.
anon
My daughter had as many as 3 cold sores in her mouth and we saw her
pediatrician about it. There was a huge cold sore on her tongue and she
wouldn't eat much either and it looked like it hurt so bad.
Unfortunately, there's nothing much I was told that you can do to get
the cold sores to go away. They take about a week's time. But the
pediatrician did recommend an over the counter product called, ''Gly
Oxide'' which you can use as many times a day to help keep the sores and
the mouth area clean. I think it helped ease the pain a bit and my
daughter loved it so much that she would ask for it. It would break my
heart too to see my daughter not eat for so long and one thing that she
did take was soup that was taken with a straw. Hope this helps a bit.
anon
I get those a fair amount and every time I have to take antibiotics they
get really bad. I think it has something to do with a change in the Ph
in the mouth. peppermint tea has helped me, can she drink from a regular
cup?
you might try using some mouthwash or different toothpaste. try
different things, a lot of things can change the Ph of the mouth good
luck
There is a chance that your daughter may have hand, foot and mouth
disease, which starts off with sores in the mouth and then eventually
the hands and feet. In any case, you should take her to a doctor for
diagnosis instead of second guessing what could be wrong. If she
develops a high fever, then it is definitely hand foot mouth disease.
There was an outbreak of this recently at my son's daycare, and
according to the literature they gave us, it's very contagious.
anon
At 18 months my son had his entire mouth covered in horrible cold sores
(herpes infection I believe). He would try to eat and fall to the floor
in pain, roll around on the floor with his eyes rolled back in his head
screaming. He was losing weight and becoming dehydrated. He had a fever
and everything and the doctor perscribed some medication (which I ended
up never using). I went straight to the pharmacy and while standing in
line (for 1/2 an hour) with my son screaming and crying I happened to
bend down to pick him up right in front of the children's chloroseptic
(throat spray). He was only 18 months old, but at that point I was
desperate and the front of the line was still very far away. I grabbed
the bottle off the shelf and sprayed his mouth (which was wide open). It
gave him immediate relief. I mean immediate. He sighed with relief,
drank from his bottle and fell asleep. I took that bottle home with me
and used it liberally. He was able to eat, drink and sleep OK after that
and though it was still rough we got through it. I had no problem
getting him to open his mouth, usually I knew he needed it because he'd
come running to me with his mout wide open already. I've used that for
cold sores ever since because for years after he got them very often.
feeling their pain
How coincidental to read your msg-- we just went thru the same thing
with my 5yo daughter-- a canker sore on the tip of her tongue which hurt
her so much it woke her up at night. She too complained that it hurt to
eat. I tried an oral topical treatment that was supposed to numb the
pain and she screamed and said it was worse. So we just endured it.
She did suck on a few ice cubes/popsicles which were temporarily
helpful, but overall we just had to wait until the pain subsided (about
2 days). I plan on talking to our pediatrician about it to get better
ideas the next time we're there. Good luck.
anon
If what you're describing is the same as a canker sore (and I'm pretty
sure it is) we had amazing luck simply by eliminating toothpaste that
contains sodium laurel sulfate. My 5yo had a sore that made him scream
when we brushed his teeth. His dentist recommended that, and the canker
sore disappeared within a couple of days. We used a kiddie-toothpaste
that fit the bill, made by Welde, a German company. It's sold at the
Berkeley Bowl, and comes in yellow packaging. Good luck.
mom of happy mouth
From the number of responses to your post it sounds like there could be a variety of things that could be leading to your daugheter's sores. If it is indeed the result of a herpes virus, I wanted to offer some advice that has greatly helped me with my cold sore outbreaks:
When I firsted volunteering as a medic at Berkeley Free Clinic I learned that in order to replicate the herpes virus requires Arginine an amino acid. It has been found that the amino acid, Lysine, retards Arginime, so you should include in your diet foods high in Lysine and decrease the foods high in L-Arginine.
This is a really good article explaining it much better than I
can:
http://wholehealthmd.com/refshelf/substances_view/1,1525,862,00.html
It's something I manage by taking over the counter Lysine supplements at the first sign of an outbreak (available at any drugstore). Once I started doing this my cold sores would disappear within hours. Im not sure the appropriate dosage of lysine for a child, but you can also regulate it through diet -- dairy, red meat and fish are all great sources of Lysine-- avoid nuts, chocolate and caffeine which are high in Arginine (if your family is vegan then you can be pretty certain this is the problem).
See the site below for a list of Arginine / Lysine balance in foods.
http://www.herpes.com/Nutrition.shtml
Hope this helps.
susannah
Nov 2004
Does anyone have information/experience with Hand, Foot, Mouth
Disease? I'm told its been passing through some local parks and
my child's friend has it.
Thank you.
My 2-year old just suffered through this - he caught it at his
daycare (contagious via saliva, poop, blister-on-blister). The
first symptom was discomfort in his mouth and a lot of drooling;
at first, we though his molars were coming in. Then he said it
was his tongue, and after looking in his mouth, I saw he had one
little sore on one side, We thought he'd bitten his tongue. He
got increasingly cranky and fussy about eating. The next day I
picked him up early from school and had him lean back to look in
his mouth. He now had a 2nd sore on his tongue and tiny red
bumps along the back roof of his mouth. I bullied my way into
the doctor's office where they confirmed it was a virus
(although the Dr. didn't call it H/F/M). Since it's a virus, you
can't get an anti-biotic, but he did prescribe a Benadryl-based
medicine that you use to ''coat'' the mouth (tricky with a 2-year
old - but we established a ritual whereby he leaned back and I
used one of those 'hypodermic needle'-style medicine dispensers
to get it all over the nooks & crannies in his mouth.) NOTE: I
had to go to 3 pharmacies to get this presription filled - it is
a compound mix (?) and apparently most neighborhood pharmacies
don't have the capability on-site to mix.
Anyways, long story long, the next 3 days were painful indeed,
as our son did not want to put anything in his mouth. However,
he quickly became a fan of popsicles, and we were able to get
him to eat smoothies, yogurt, ice cream and even a little
babyfood. It's really important to make sure they stay hydrated,
and we successfully positioned water with ice cubes as a way of
releiving the pain in his mouth. Sleeping was very difficult as
he'd wake himself up constantly when swallowing (I guess) so I
camped out next to his bed for two nights to offer comfort.
The mouth healed within 3 days; he only got a few little bumps
on fingers/toes/butt.
Coincidentally, I have had this same virus twice within the last
year, without him catching it (our nanny had it once too).
Having suffered through it, I can really appreciate how painful
it is for our babies. One of my symptoms - fingernails peeling
off - luckily didn't materialize for my son, but is another
thing to keep an eye out for.
anon
My son had hand, foot, and mouth disease when he was 2. It's a nasty
viral illness, but not particularly dangerous -- it results in painful blisters
in the mouth and/or rash on the hands and feet, also possibly in the
diaper area. Basically, my son didn't eat for three or four days because
his mouth was so sore, and he cried a lot. Then he got better, and I
believe once children have it, they develop immunity.
I'm not sure what you mean by ''passing through local parks;'' certainly it
is contagious, and when kids have it and come in contact with other
kids, they pass it on. I believe for some reason it tends to be most
prevalent in the fall.
Karen
hand foot and mouth disease is a very contagious virus that is
pretty minor and self-limiting (it goes away on its own). red
itchy bumps appear on hands, feet and inside the mouth. my
nieces had it recently and they said the bumps felt tingly and a
little numb though I think this is not a common reaction.
Pediatricians don't generally keep kids home from school or
other activities and only treat it symptomatically - benadryl
for the itching if it becomes too annoying.
anon
Google ''coxsackie virus'' and you'll find loads of information.
It is quite common around here in the fall, ranges from quite
mild to very painful (it led my two-year-old to wean when his
mouth was too sore to suck). It is viral, but there are several
strains, so having it once doesn't guarantee your child won't get
another strain some other time. Other than possible dehydration
(from reluctance to drink), I don't think there are any major
risks associated with it - it can lead to a very cranky child,
though!
RK
here's a link to the CDC website on hand, foot and mouth
disease.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/hfmd.htm
anon
My oldest son had hand, foot and mouth disease when he was 5
months old. From what I understand, this is a fairly common
viral illness - especially for children in childcare. He ran a
fever for a few days and then had a blistery rash on the palms
of his hands, soles of his feet and in his mouth. It passed
within a week or so. In the meantime, he was fussy while eating
(the sores in his mouth hurt and caused him to drool quite a
bit). I gave him tylenol to deal with the fever and pain.
When my son caught it, it was the first time he had been sick,
so I was pretty shaken up (and the name sounds menacing). From
what I understand, though, once a child has caught it, they
build an immunity and won't catch it again.
Jennifer
My 11-month-old son got hand, foot and mouth disease this fall--
a common time to contract it. He was fussy, a little feverish,
and he didn't want to eat. Our pediatrician diagnosed him
immediately (spots at the back of his mouth, nothing on his
hands or feet) and recommended children's Tylenol or ibuprofen
to relieve his mouth pain and make it more comfortable to
eat/drink. The whole thing cleared up in less than a week.
Anon
Sept 2003
Is there a cure for Cold Sores/HSV1, or is this something
that I will ALWAYS have to live with? Has anyone tried
ViraDerm? What about Lysine? What works to prevent an
outbreak and what works to QUICKLY clear one up? I'm
totally bummed out about this.... and would love to hear any
advice on what to do!!
Bummed : (
Abreva is AMAZING. Expensive, but amazing - it really works.
Cold sores used to stay with me for about two weeks. Now,
especially if I can catch it right at the very first tell-tale
tingle, i can prevent the outbreak entirely. If I don't catch
it that early, Abreva still helps - the sores are much smaller
than they would be untreated, and they go away much much much
faster (two days +/-).
Also, make sure you stay out of the sun - that makes 'em
worse.
I never had much luck with any other treatment.
evelyn
Herpes is opportunistic, as most viruses are, and stress plays a big role
in reducing the immune system's ability to win the fight. Licorice supports
the adrenals, the
glands that coordinate our immune system (when not otherwise occupied with
stress). Avoid with high blood pressure, however. Lysine can be helpful
for the
outbreak but duration is 2-3 weeks. Use with vitamin E complex. Melissa
officinalis (lemon balm- grows in the garden like mint) is an effective
herb available in
cream specifically for cold sores. It also is a lovely, calming nervine
tea.
Nori Hudson
Hey-I struggled with cold sores for years until my doctor
prescribed penciclovir. I used the cream because I was
nursing. Just the other day I felt that all too familiar
itching on my lip, looked in the miror, and my lip was already
twice as big as normal. I immediately put on the cream every 2
hours as directed (I always have it with me just in case), took
triple the dose of Lysine, and it went away without ever
becoming a sore. Such a change from a few years ago when it
would take weeks of pain and humiliation for a cold sore to
heal!!
Good luck!
anon
While I'm not usually someone who goes out a tries ''different''
forms of medicine, a few years ago I went to a Chinese herbalist
about cold sores. I had them a few times a year for 15 years
before I saw him. He gave me a (very awful tasting) tea, and
I've had 2 cold sores altogether in the years since. So, I
would definitely recommend it as worth a try. I don't remember
the name of the clinic, but it was right off Solano Ave. Good
luck!
Eden O'Brien-Brenner
I have suffered with cold sores since I was 11. Now I have a
bottle of acyclovir on hand. The doctor gives me a
prescription so that I can have the pills on me as soon as I
feel the first tingle of a cold sore coming. Then I take 3
pills a day for a week. Most of the time, the cold sore never
completely surfaces, but if it does, it disappears very
quickly. It is a miracle drug as far as I'm concerned!
living with cold sores too
Dear Bummed: Lysine did work for me, but the Dr. told me to
stop using it when I was pregnant. Blistex (the white and red
tube) works well for me in terms of prevention. Make it your
lip balm of choice, and hopefully, you'll be able to stave off
the outbreaks, too.
Good Luck!
Unfortunately there is no cure for cold sores/HSV1. It is a
virus, and there are no cures for viruses. You will always have
it in your system. Your best bet for quickly stopping an
outbreak is to take Zovirax (Acyclivor). It is a prescription
medicine. It works wonderfully for me....at the first sign of a
cold sore (tingling, etc), I take 1 or 2, and it never fully
erupts. I have had severe cold sore problems my whole life, and
have been so happy with this miracle medicine. As far as I know,
there are no serious side effects. I wouldn't waste your money
or time on anything else! Good luck!
Monique Does mobuff@uclink.berkeley.edu
Zorivax is incredibly effective. Use it just as you notice the
sore and it will go away in a day or two. No cure.
There is currently no cure for cold sores. However, outbreaks can be
controlled. My husband has serious problems with them (e.g. outbreaks
all over his face, inside his nose, etc.). He uses acyclovir (Zovirax),
and
if he takes a dose THE INSTANT he feels that tell-tale tingle, he can
minimize or sometimes even prevent an outbreak. Also, his outbreaks
are sometimes brought on by sun exposure, so if he is out in the sun for
a long time, he will often take some for a 48-hour period, and can
usually prevent outbreaks that way.
Karen
There is an over-the-counter product, Abreva, that you apply the
moment you suspect a cold sore is starting, and several times a
day until it's gone. It helps a lot to reduce the severity of a
cold sore and shortens healing time. It costs about $16 a tube;
one tube lasts for several sores.
Lysine sort-of helps.
I've heard that numbing the sore with ice several times a day
reduces the severity and shortens healing time, as part of what
happens is due to inflammation alone.
Finally, one of the big catalysts for cold sores is sunburn, so
use sunscreen on your lips, preferably one with zinc oxide.
anonymous
I have to admit, I have more to learn about this. But, given
that--I do get cold sores periodically. I have found one thing to
be VERY effective in heading them off at the pass (at the
tingly-spot stage): a tiny bottle I got at some health-food
store, called Cold Sores Begone! Amazing stuff. (Hey, it has a
website! http://www.csbegone.com/)
And if that doesn't do it, applying Campho-Phenique *gel* 4 times
a day makes it dry up and heal very quickly.
Those are the only two products I've found to be effective, period.
Jennie
Home |
Reviews |
Advice |
Members |
Post a Message
Join BPN |
Help |
What's New |
Search |
Contact Us
Last updated: Apr 25, 2008
Copyright © 1996-2008 Berkeley Parents Network
The opinions and statements expressed on this website
are those of parents who subscribe to the
Berkeley Parents Network. Please see
Disclaimer & Usage for
information about using content on this website.