worried about my kids

[calln]

I was worried that I passed HSV onto my kids when I delivered them. I have been diagnosed with HSV--1 by blood work, but I'm pretty sure its genital. I had a couple breakouts when i was 17, never went to the doctor and then never really had symptoms after that. When I got pregnant at 25 with my son i told my ob I suspected I had herpes but he said my symptoms didn't sound like herpes ( which were breaking out in pimple like spots all over my pelvis and buttocks.) I had my son vaginally and he was healthy. He then started breaking out in rashes at 1 year old little red bumps over his scrotum and buttocks. The doctors always said diaper rash or fungal rash -with fungal cream it would go away. I told the ped i thought i might have hsv-1 and he said that wasn't it on my son. I then got pregnant with my daughter, told my ob i tested positive for hsv 1 and thought it might be genital and he said not to worry. I had her vaginally and she was born healthy. She then also started getting rashes little red bumps on her labia and buttocks at 6 month old. The ped said "folliculits" or diaper rash. The first couple rashes were the worst for both my kids, now they are not that bad. My son is potty trained and he doesn't really break out anymore, sometimes he says my butt hurts and a little redness in his butt. All the peds say no its diaper rash but i cant help think it may have been something I passed on to them when I delivered them!

[gracefromHHP]

if you had transmitted herpes to your children during delivery, they would've been obviously ill soon after birth and needed hospitalization and treatment. Rashes 6 months or a year later aren't your herpes going on. there is absolutely no  need for any testing on your children for herpes at all.  

children get rashes in the diaper area a lot. though diapers today let the skin "breathe" more than ever, they still trap in moisture and trap chemicals in on their skin. some children are far more sensitive than others to this. Once they start eating baby foods, the flora in their bowels change too and that's typically when the rashes start. Your children have been seen and properly examined and you know this isn't herpes going on.  It's pretty easy to tell the difference between diaper rash and herpes in children I assure you.  

grace

[Mistakeguy789]

I think grace should respond to that.  But with what little knowledge I do have HSV-1 even genitally doesn't shed that often and unless you were having an outbreak at the time of delievery your risk to your kids is low.  

If the kids break out again maybe ask the doctors to do a swab to send for an HSV culture or PCR (this is expensive but usually the best one out there.  Check with your insurance if they will pay for it if you have it.).  

In all honesty though I think grace would be your best resource on this.  Take my advice to pennies compared to hers.  She has HSV and has had children.