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Oral Herpes in Children
My very young son (less than 5 yrs old) has oral herpes. Unfortunately is was transmitted from a family member. For the last 18 months, his syptoms and outbreaks have been getting worse. He averages 3 outbreaks a month. We are lucky if he can go 5-7 days between outbreaks.
We have been prescribed acyclovir to use during outbreaks and this will sometimes shorten their duration.
My question is for anyone who has children with it or had it when they were kids. How successful were your treatments? Our pediatrician has never really treated anyone this young with herpes nor anyone who has outbreaks as frequently as my son. He has conculted an infectious disease specialist and at that point (4 months ago) , they do not want to start suppressive therapy but may consider it in the future.
He talked about a solid year of suppressive therapy. He informed me that this could alter to course of the outbreaks to make them less frequent even after suppresive therapy was halted. Any truth to this? Has anyone had a child on suppressive therapy long term?
I fear for my son's future and what he will have to endure growing up.
We have been prescribed acyclovir to use during outbreaks and this will sometimes shorten their duration.
My question is for anyone who has children with it or had it when they were kids. How successful were your treatments? Our pediatrician has never really treated anyone this young with herpes nor anyone who has outbreaks as frequently as my son. He has conculted an infectious disease specialist and at that point (4 months ago) , they do not want to start suppressive therapy but may consider it in the future.
He talked about a solid year of suppressive therapy. He informed me that this could alter to course of the outbreaks to make them less frequent even after suppresive therapy was halted. Any truth to this? Has anyone had a child on suppressive therapy long term?
I fear for my son's future and what he will have to endure growing up.
I think my child has herpes in her throat and she's coughing like crazy I don't know what to do and I'm very worried I'm taking her to the doctor Monday I'm going to tell them that she needs to go to ENT and infectious disease and start acyclovir because she's done for 5 days and it comes right back I'm so worried
yes they can be on suppressive therapy at that age. they make liquid acyclovir for children.
you really need to take him to his pediatrician and look into this further. it isn't likely to be oral herpes going on this frequently and he needs a proper work up. no looksee's - proper testing.
also fyi - blood tests for herpes are not accurate in 5 year olds so he needs lesion cultures of symptoms, not blood testing done.
grace
you really need to take him to his pediatrician and look into this further. it isn't likely to be oral herpes going on this frequently and he needs a proper work up. no looksee's - proper testing.
also fyi - blood tests for herpes are not accurate in 5 year olds so he needs lesion cultures of symptoms, not blood testing done.
grace
I have not had it cultured but when my other child was exposed and showed symptoms within two weeks, we eventaully took her in and had it cultured. it was not detectable by the more accurate test and inconclusive by the other (forgive me, I had researched this thoroughly two years ago and knew all about the test but have since forgotten it). I am certain that it is herpes and his doctors would agree.
His OBs range. He complains of pain and I know when an outbreak is coming on becuase he will pick at his lips. It normally occurs on his bottom lip and right below his lip can get red and irritated looking. He will also get blisters in his lip. Lately, a spot on his upper lip has been breaking out more. It rately broke out before.
2-3 times a month is just heart wrenching. He is little now and free from others' looks but he is growing up and I fear for his social development.
Can a young child be on suppressive therapy?
His OBs range. He complains of pain and I know when an outbreak is coming on becuase he will pick at his lips. It normally occurs on his bottom lip and right below his lip can get red and irritated looking. He will also get blisters in his lip. Lately, a spot on his upper lip has been breaking out more. It rately broke out before.
2-3 times a month is just heart wrenching. He is little now and free from others' looks but he is growing up and I fear for his social development.
Can a young child be on suppressive therapy?
Have you had these cultured at all to confirm that it's oral herpes going on?
do you mind describing his ob's?
The reason I ask is because it's not likely he's getting oral herpes recurrences this often.
grace
do you mind describing his ob's?
The reason I ask is because it's not likely he's getting oral herpes recurrences this often.
grace
I cannot say that I know much about your situation, but I'll give you some of my thoughts if that helps.
I know a little girl who had it and although I don't know what treatments she received (I'm as close as family but try not to pry) I believe she at least had a topical cream. I suspect that her immune system kicked in and it's no longer an issue.
Everyone's immune system is different, and so that is why many exposed people never display symptoms while others deal with it on a recurring basis. Herpes is cynical that it evades detection by attaching to nerve ganglia (and at the base of the spine?) so that even healthy immune systems can't deal with it completely.
When I was younger, I got sick often. After I grew up however, I seemed to be much better off. It is possible that your son may have to deal with the side effects of anti-viral medication when he's younger, and not have to when he's older. If that's the case, he'll be able to forget about it and consider it more normal.
This of course is all just food for thought and I don't want to be overly suggestive, but if it were me I would coach him the best I could on how to handle the situation and hope for the best.
Best of luck to you both
I know a little girl who had it and although I don't know what treatments she received (I'm as close as family but try not to pry) I believe she at least had a topical cream. I suspect that her immune system kicked in and it's no longer an issue.
Everyone's immune system is different, and so that is why many exposed people never display symptoms while others deal with it on a recurring basis. Herpes is cynical that it evades detection by attaching to nerve ganglia (and at the base of the spine?) so that even healthy immune systems can't deal with it completely.
When I was younger, I got sick often. After I grew up however, I seemed to be much better off. It is possible that your son may have to deal with the side effects of anti-viral medication when he's younger, and not have to when he's older. If that's the case, he'll be able to forget about it and consider it more normal.
This of course is all just food for thought and I don't want to be overly suggestive, but if it were me I would coach him the best I could on how to handle the situation and hope for the best.
Best of luck to you both
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Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
