2 Year Old Has Coldsore?

I thought my daughter had a cold sore but when I took her in, they said it was impetigo. She needed some antibiotic ointment and it got better.

Morning Allison-
More than likely it's impetigo and if it is- yes you should bring her in- spreading and contagious.
If could be coldsore if you or husband get them- but better to elim. the infection as it requires topical meds only if caught early- or oral if crusting and oozie.

About me- 48yo med. prof, wellness coach and mom to (today) 7yo twin girls

B. J

Sounds like a cold sore to me. One of my children has had a problem with recurring cold sores since he was really little. The sooner you get her to a doctor, the better chance you have of getting it treated with an antiviral. If it is too advanced, they may tell you to treat it with over the counter med and bring her in the next time you see one starting. They are more likely to pop up when the weather changes and if my son is stressed/upset about something. Too much sun exposure is another trigger. As for over the counter meds, they all work about the same, but some of them really sting at first.

My pediatrician recommended that we use an amino acid called L-Lysine that you can find in the vitamin aisle. It is something that our bodies make naturally, but some of us that are prone to cold sores, don't have enough of. You could get some and crush it into applesauce or yogurt. We used 2-3 tablets a day when he had a sore and 1 a day for a while after-wards or when he was more prone to getting them. Since it is an amino acid, his body will just "sluff off" what it doesn't need. Now, he is 12 and hardly gets them at all. When he feels one starting to tingle, he just starts taking the L-Lysine again. It has been remarkable. Good luck!!!

It could very well be a cold sore. I have been getting them ever since I was a little girl and now my 10 yr. old son gets them as well (I assume it's from me). We both get them if we are stressed or if we have a fever-even a low grade one. I usually get about 4 or 5 a year. I personally use Abreva, but it's kind of expensive. I also have gotten a Rx for it, but it seems to take about the same amount of time to heal. I would give your dr. a call. The sooner you get something for it, the better. If you don't do anything at all, it could crack and bleed for weeks. Just a side note about Carmex - for me, it actually seems to CAUSE cold sores. I've talked to quite a few friends of mine, and they have the same problem with Carmex!

I have one daughter that gets cold sores easily. The sun brings them out. She has to wear chap stick with a 30 spf.

My other daughter gets red spots that are just chapped. We buy over the counter triple antibiotic ointment. We put that on in and with in a very short time they are gone.

My daughter use to get cold sores really bad. It is hard for people who have them (grandma in this case) to understand that they shouldn't kiss the babies when they have one.

There is over the counter meds that can help some. The doctor could give a perscription for a stronger med but at that age, she might be too young.

Cold sores are a virus and while most have more then one occurence, some will only have one and will work up an immunity to it. My daughter use to get them a lot when she was young, now she is an adult, she doesn't seem to get many and I can't remember when she had the last one.

It could also be Hand, foot and mouth disease which is caused by a virus and is going around the Madison area. My daughter has it right now and it started with a little bump on her lip. Check inside her mouth for more blisters on the roof of her mouth and checks. Blisters may also from on her hands and feet. It is very contagious. The Dr can diagnose although there is no treatment.

Stay away from acidic foods and juices that will irritate the sore whatever it is.

M.

Just some quick advice as a coldsore sufferer myself...as others have said, stress, illness, and the sun can all trigger them. If it is indeed a cold sore, make sure that whenever your little girl goes in the sun she has sunscreen on her lips. I use regular sunscreen as opposed to chapstick w/ sunscreen. Seems to work better. Also, I've had a prescription for Denavir. This works awesome! Kills the coldsore before it blisters and gets huge if you get it on right away. I have friends who've used it as well and agree. Just need to go to your doctor to get it. Not sure if it's prescribed to children, but worth the ask. Only other watch out is that some insurance companies don't pay for it. But worth a try! By far the best remedy I've seen in my 27 years of dealing w/ coldsores! One last thought...I agree w/ the Carmex comments....it only makes them worse!

If it is a cold sore, being that she's only two, I would opt to try a natural remedy first before putting ointments and creams on her lip (because it will surely get in her mouth). I've been using essential oils and there are some that help with cold sores (eucalyptus for one). Whatever it is I hope you can help heal it soon for her sake! Good luck!

Could very well be a cold sore, but double check for Impetigo. Best if caught early as it spreads easily and is very contagious. My son caught it right before he turned 2 and it looked like a cold sore at first. Then it spread and I caught it too. Impetigo can cause scarring also if not treated properly or scratched at too much. So I would take her to the Dr. just to make sure.

Good luck, and I hope its just a cold sore.

S.

I agree with others that you do need to take her to the doctor to be certain and get all the information you need about it. If it is a cold sore then I agree with the other responses about the supplement "Lysine". Make sure you ask the doctor about it to see if it can be given and how much. This works tremendously well. I usually get cold sores from time to time due to sun, stress, and tomatoes. I was told about Lysine and tried it. Now when I feel one coming on I start taking it right away and the sore never does get all that bad. I also use Campho-Phenique with drying action.
Hope this helps! I also hope her "owie" goes away soon, so she'll feel better.

If the cold sore spreads, then it is Impetigo. We just had that this week. Yeah, fun, fun. Just know that the cold sore treatment and Impetigo treatment are not the same. Call the doctor.

Hey Allison,
My son and daughter had the same thing and started running fevers, it turned out to be hand, foot and mouth disease. Pretty common apparently, my kids probably got it from the zoo... Check her hands and feet for little red "pimple-like" bumps/ blisters. Fever is another main symptom as I mentioned.
We thought my kids had cold sores too, they've gotten hf & m the past 2 years, so...
Good luck and take care!
J.

My 18 month old had this a couple of weeks ago. The doctor said that when their little bodies are first exposed to the herpes virus it causes the little blisters in the mouth (and on the mouth) along with a very high fever. After the first exposure, the child will just get a cold sore. I believe it was called Stomatitis. Very similar to hand, foot, and mouth (as the previous poster suggests), but not necessarily as contagious. (according to the doc she could go back to daycare right away). My daughter wasn't eating well and the 'owie' lasted several days--she was terribly grouchy and didn't sleep well. Oh, and my husband happened to have a cold sore about the same time. I don't think you need to go to the doctor--ours didn't prescribe anything. just said to give motrin/tylenol to help her feel better, and keep giving fluids.

There are different strains of the herpes virus, and one of the strains is the cause of coldsores. Most people "pick up" this strain when they are very young, babies or toddlers around your daughters age.

I get coldsores from time to time. I can go several years without one, and then I can get several in a month. Stress and other illnesses seem to be the triggers for me.

If she doesn't have a fever, the bump is not spreading, she doesn't have a fever, and she isn't otherwise ill, I would not bring her to the doctor. Any drug store or Target or Wal-Mart will sell cold sore rememdies. Carmex does not work for me, but Blistex does.

There is also a supplement called "Lysine" that is supposed to clear up cold sores from the inside out, so to speak. I have never taken it, and I don't know if children can have it, but I have also seen this supplement in stores.

Acidic foods like orange juice and tomatoes will irritate a cold sore, so avoid those foods while it clears up.

If it's on the outside of the lip I would get some Abreva (over the counter med for cold sores). If you have inside lip sores that is a different virus and I would get it checked out. Good luck!

I would take her in, it could be empatigo

Herpes. Cold sores are caused by the herpes virus. They can reoccur often but some people only get them once every 4 years. Stress tends to bring them out. Children in daycare or who have parents with the virus usually get it/have it. There are cold sore medications out there but I'm unsure if they can be used for children. I don't get cold sores but I'm told Carmex helps so maybe you could try that. Call your doctor and see what he or she thinks re: a visit but most people just put something on it and it goes away within two weeks.

My son gets cold sores really bad by his nose, eyes and mouth and they would just look at them and said they were impentigo but then they cultured them and realized they were really cold sores. They gave us a refillable perscription for Acylovir. It has been a heaven send. His coldsores have also gotten infected and he needed an oral antibotic to make them go away.
good luck