How to Treat Your Child's Cold Sores

No parent likes to see their child suffer with cold sores or fever blisters? In fact, no parent like to see their child suffer. Learn how to treat cold sores. 

What Causes Cold Sores?

Cold sores are cause by certain strains of herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) is usually responsible for cold sores and HSV-2 is usually responsible for genital herpes. This virus can be transmitted to others. Note: Flowing fluid from it, can be contagious. It is important to know some of the triggers.





Cold Sore Triggers

Cold sore triggers may include fever, stress, fatigue, and exposure to the sun. Did you know that about 90% of adults test positive for evidence of the virus of the cold sore even though they never had symptoms of the infection? When your immune system is weakened or compromised, your body may be subject to infection. That is why sit is so important to help your child get their proper rest, even though they are full of this big burst of energy.

Cold Sore Symptoms

Your child may experience a sore mouth accompanied with uncomfortable eating and drinking, a fever, sore throat, or swollen lymph nodes.






Remedies for Cold Sores or Fever Blisters

First of all remind your child not to pick at the cold sore. Usually it will end between 7-10 days but the herpes virus will remain in your child’s body. Several drugstore remedies may include Blister, Carmex, and Campho-Phenique. Abreva is approved by the United States Food & Drug Administration and it helps the sores to heal.


Canker Sore

Do not confuse a canker sore with a cold sore. Canker sores only happen inside of the mouth. They may appear in small clusters under the tongue or inside of the cheek. It appears white or yellowish and your child may have a burning sensation. They are not contagious like cold sores are. That is good news. There may be a connection of canker sores with stress. Children may get canker sores between the ages of 10 and 20 years of age. A good pain reliever is Ibuprofen.


Home Remedies

1. Covering the cold sore with petroleum jelly can help speed the healing process.

2. Local anesthetic ointment containing Benzedrine will help with the pain

3. Change your child's toothbrush during the virus attack and after it is over with, because toothbrushes can carry the virus.

4. Did you know that Licorice stops the cold sore virus cells. Just make sure it is made form real licorice.

5. Visine helps take the red out of cold sores if you cannot make it to the pharmacy

6. Finally, applying a cold compress for 20 minutes at a time will help with the swelling and the redness.




Commons, Wikimedia.org, by Ben Tillman, 11.28.2008

More from this author:

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Children Germs

Do Your Children Have Head Lice?

Source:

Causes

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cold-sore/DS00358/DSECTION=causes

Cold Sores Symptoms

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/tc/cold-sores-symptoms
Children Germs

Remedies for Cold Sores and Fever blisters

www.livestrong.com/article/25434-remedies-cold-sores-fever-blisters/

What's a Canker Sore?

http://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/mouth/canker.html


5 Cold Sore Treatments that will Help You Save Face

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/02/cold-sore-treatment-tips_n_3195566.html