Alright Still Concerned About the Cold Sore Thing - Another Question

Yes...you can get herpes simplex 1 (cold sores) in the genital area...It is not the same thing as herpes simplex 2 which is genital herpes...but still very nasty and painful, though not as serious.

It is HIGHLY UNLIKELY your MIL passed this on without "direct contact" to your daughters genitals, so I would just stop obsessing. I know you are worried, believe me I understand...but there is nothing you can do about it. Life goes on, and honestly...there are way worse things in life than a cold sore. We aren't talking leprosy or AIDS, so just calm down, and on the off chance she does show symptoms...deal with it. It isn't life threatening and debilitating, on top of the fact that no amount of research or worry is going to change it. From here on out demand your MIL be more cautious...and leave it alone.

I do not know of anyone who has got genital herpes from having a cold sore.

I answered your post yesterday too. I am 33 years old, have had cold sores since I was about 14 and do not have genital herpes.

I understand your concern. I get it completely...but honestly Jamie, there is nothing you can do about this now...you gotta figure out a way to let this go...unnecessary worrying is stress, which isn't good for anybody.

Whats done is done. Probably, most likely, there is a good 90% chance that no transfer of any kind took place, to any area.

It will be OK.

To try to give you some comfort there is a certain % of the population that is immune to this virus...I believe my hubby is one of those, we have been together for 13+ years and he kisses me when I am having an outbreak and has never had so much as a tingle. So it does happen. Does that make you feel any better? I hope so.

~My oldest son is 7 years old...and in that 7 years I have gotten at least 21, if not more cold sores...I get them at least 2-3x a year....and there have been many times where I forgot or didn't see and I have kissed my son or he has drank from my drink/straw...i have stressed myself out, just as you are doing now...and all my kids are fine (knock on some wood)...it will be OK James! (Does anyone call you James? My cousin is named Jamie and we call her James sometimes :) Don't worry so much sis...there is nothing you can do about it now anyway...but chances are good that your child is fine!

I had cold sores as a child, it was dormant for years and then came back when I had my daughter. I would get a second opinion. I was MISDIAGNOSED with genital herpes, and even had a false negative on blood work. They are two different strains of the herpes virus---there are MANY strains (chicken pox, shingles, etc) I once got a cold sore on my eye, and it only occurred once. My point is, it is VERY unlikely that this will transfer. Also you are correct that if it was in the healing stage, then most likely it was no longer contagious (same with chicken pox). I believe it is near impossible for it to be transferred since both simplexes are "living" in mucous membrane areas, eyes, nose, mouth, gentials. I would just use hand sanitizer when ever an outbreak occurs, and ask the relatives to do the same. If they get upset, then that is immature of them. I wouldn't hold someone's baby if I had an outbreak...I would be a little more careful.

Mandy S....Nope you can get the kind of herpes that you get around your mouth anywhere... genitals, eye, nose, etc... it however is not the same virus as genital herpes. Likewise you can get gential herpes anywhere else.... Ick!

Jamie, I feel for you... My MIL and FIL and my hubby get cold sores ( they are supper commen) And they don't seem to get that they can pass it to my child, and even though they are common why would you want to risk giving it to a baby... who will have to grow up with them... I mean even if half their class has them they are still embarrassing. My cousin in a RN and gets them and she is diligent to wash her hands before touching my DD and doesn't let her touch her face or drink after her.... Its a huge PET PEEVE with mine!! SO i feel your pain.... That being said, I am sure she is fine... I am pretty sure it can only be passes if there is a opening in the skin or cut or something... I read somewhere that cold sores get passed if say you drink from a straw of an infected person and you have a cut on your lip thats where the infection gets in... so I would assume the same is true for diaper changes.... and chances are that the exact spot she touched her cold sore touched your daughter aren't very likely... not impossible, but no reason to stress out now on something you can't change... I would just make sure you have a conversation about how strongly you feel about her being diligent about washing her hands before touching your daughter... Also, maybe print out something about how the virus can be transferred to another person that way she doesn't think you are exaggerating (like my inlaws think I am)

I asked two pediatricians about this because both of my little ones came down with cold sores on their lips and were always "grabbing" themselves. (They were three and one at the time!!!) Both doctor's told me that in all the years of practicing pediatric medicine, they'd never seen a case of oral to genital transmission from a child with HSV-1. Anything is possible but I wouldn't worry about. You can always ask your doctor and they can test your daughter now and in a few months for your peace of mind.

You are still worrying about this?
Genital herpes and cold sores are not caused by the same virus.
I am, unfortunately, the queen of cold sores and shingles, in fact I was just hospitalized in December over it. I had pneumonia and shingles and the pain from shingles is the worst thing to manage.
Anyway, I will say it again......
Not ONE other person in my family has ever had a cold sore. Or shingles. I have two children whose diapers I changed, whose runny noses I wiped, who kissed me. I was intimate with my husband. I did daycare for years.
Not one other person in my life has ever gotten as much as a cold sore from being in contact with me. Even INTIMATE contact.

Can I ask YOU a question?
Is this about your fear of cold sores or is this about you thinking your MIL would actually risk spreading some type of infection to your daughter?
I understand concern. I'm a mother.
But, at what point are you going to allow yourself to stop worrying about this?
My family (and health care providers) have been exposed to me during the very worst parts of everything I've been through and not one has ever contracted anything from me.
AND!!!!!!!!!! I have never transferred anything to my own genitals, let alone anyone else's.
It's nasty stuff. And scary. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.
But, I also happen to know it's not as easily spread as you are fearing or there would be a whole bunch of other people in my life walking around and suffering.
That simply isn't the case.
Being this worried, have you considered getting your daughter vaccinated against the chicken pox virus?
I'm not trying to get into a vaccine debate, but there is a vaccine.

I don't know what else to say to alleviate your fears.
I honestly, honestly think your baby is okay.
Really and truly.

No offense intended whatsoever. If you've had chicken pox, YOU might get shingles from worrying so much.
Seriously.
I think things are okay.

Hug your baby. Enjoy your day.
Very best wishes to you!

bless your heart, i'd probly be nervous too, but surely your MIL is more mindful than that than to directly touch her face/mouth area then wipe your little girl...surely! i know i am anytime i've got some funk on me (fever blister, pink eye, etc), i wash my hands non-stop and i'm sure your MIL did too. it's okay sweetie, don't worry. your baby girl's fine. they can do lab work next time you take her in to check for the virus if your worry stays w/you, but hopefully it won't. take care! :)

I believe that genital herpes is different... call and ask your doctor.

EDIT: That was my point... I believe "genital herpes" is a different virus. Not saying she can't them there, but it isn't the typically know ""genital herpes"

don't worry so much about it. There is nothing you can do about it now. Most everyone has lip herpes and most just don't get any symptoms because their immune system is very good. I really doubt she passed on the virus to your daughter.

You need to be really strict about your MIL's contact with your child while she has an open wound. You need to let her know that if she's not more sanitary and careful about touching her cold sore (and not washing hands) before laying those hands on your child - you'll have to keep them separated while she has an active outbreak.

As a Nurse... herpes simplexes 1,2 and 3 CAN infect at anytime in the stages just before, during and healing of an open sore. Your cold sore (Herpes 1) can in fact cause genital herpes if touching the genitals (which is Herpes 2) and vice versa.

Never forget Chicken Pox is a herpes virus too... #3