Cold sores on the lip
A common childhood ailment is the presence of cold sores, sometimes also called "fever blisters." They are red bumps that develop into seeping blisters and eventually crust over. The blister are very painful and highly contagious. The cause is the herpes virus, HSV-1, which is not the same as the virus that causes genital herpes. Parents can take precautions to relieve some of the discomfort and prevent the further spread.
Instructions
Medical Treatments
1. Have frequent outbreaks diagnosed by a doctor. For the child who suffers frequent outbreaks, he may provide a prescription for an oral medication containing acyclovir.
2. Use an external medications or topical creams such as Abreva, Zilactin and Zildent. Wear a pair of gloves when you apply the cream to your child's face.
3. Use internal topical medications that can be purchased over the counter. Topical relief can be given with Orajel or Anbesol. Again, use gloves when applying the medication.
4. Give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen for the pain. Never give children aspirin, as it can cause Reye's Syndrome.
Non-Medicinal Treatments
5. Use a variety of cold compresses for painful, burning sores. Cool towels, ice packs and cold foods and drinks can relieve discomfort. Apply cold compresses three times a day for up to 20 minutes.
6. Use a mouth rinse of baking soda and water to cleanse the sore inside the mouth. Avoid acidic foods and drink.
7. Understand that some cold sores can be left untreated. They usually go away within 7 to 10 days.
Prevention
8. Determine any potential triggers for the cold sore outbreaks, such as certain foods, fever, sun exposure, stress, or skin irritation. Avoid these triggers as much as possible.
9. Have the child wash her hands frequently, especially during an outbreak. Keep hands away from eyes during an outbreak, for if the cold sores move to the eyes, they can cause blindness. Touching a cold sore then touching another person will spread the virus. It is recommended that children stay home during the oozing phase of the outbreak.
10. Avoid sharing items as the virus also spreads through kissing and sharing anything that comes into contact with the mouth, including toothbrushes, lipstick and eating utensils. It can also be spread through toys that are mouthed.
Tags: cold compresses, cold sore, cold sores, during outbreak, frequent outbreaks