How Common Is It to Have Cold Sores?

Germophobes of the world unite!! Lol. Really, people, its not a big deal. I get cold sores, my kids don't. I have no idea how or when I caught it. You can't be angry at people and try to place blame everytime someone gets sick. There's no point! They will get sick. They will share germs. Yes, practice and teach good hygiene, but you can't prevent everything.

Herpes simplex.
I would be pissed!!!
Get Abreva, it is very expensive but it works.
Otherwise Carmex will help keep it moist, it won't cure it though.
And there is no cure. THis is somthing that she will live with for ever.
In the summer keep a carmex or Chapstick on her lips, in the cold of winter also.
Stress will sometimes bring out a coldsore.
fevers, sun, cold/dry, certain foods

I know you dont' want to hear this but do not kiss her or let her kiss anyone while she has an open sore.
Do not let her pick at it.
She should be more vigilant about washing her hands.

I;m so sorry but now you can use it as a teaching moment about not sharing brushes so she doesn't get lice and not sharing other things so she doesn't get sick.
I would be so mad at the mom for letting her come over while an active sore was on her face.

Cold sores are a strain of herpes, known as herpes simplex. Not vaginal herpes. Not passed sexually, but pretty contagious. I have them, my kids have them. Honestly, I just don't even think about it when I have a breakout. When my children have had breakouts, I don't think to tell him not to share with friends, since they really shouldn't anyway. But I can't go running after him every minute looking over his shoulder. When she has them, use abreva. It works great. Stress, illness, injuries, sunburn, and hormones can cause breakouts. I have a prescription for Valtrex and take one when I feel that initial tingle. My sister takes it the week prior to her period as that always brings on a big outbreak for her.

To answer your question, I think it is pretty common, but it isn't anything to get too worked up about. It doesn't compromise the body in any way - it is a minor inconvenience, and in my opinion certainly not worth getting all that worked up about. That accomplishes nothing.

I get them, hubby gets them, they suck but it's really not a big deal. Kids share stuff and you can't be there every minute. My kids have yet to get them, but I'm sure they will at some point or another. We just don't kiss on them if we get one.
Just keep it moist with carmex until it's gone and don't kiss her on the mouth while it's there.

Why is everyone so mad?! OF COURSE kids share germs, and this is just the beginning of it. Wait until elementary school and LICE is running rampant.

I would call the pediatrician. I'm not sure if little one's can use Abreva, but that's supposed to be the best stuff ever.

Going forward, teach your daughter not to share chapstick, drinks, hats (for the lice thing, LOL), etc... and give her her own little thing of Purell (if she's school age) to tote around. Make sure she's big on hand washing.

I'm a huge germaphobe, but I totally understand how kids LOVE to share germs. Education is the key in preventative measures.

Also, be sure it's a cold sore. I don't remember if I've ever had one as a kid, but I've never had one as an adult. People think 'herpes' and freak out. Cold sores, or herpes simplex as everyone else mentioned, are totally manageable and WAY different from the herpes most people think of (vaginal herpes). Talk to her doc :)

They are caused from a virus. They usually start with a fever and upset stomach (and from colds) and I have known people that had them I never caught them and my kids never caught them from anyone.

OMG
Take your girl to the Doctor.

Contagious.

Oh my god, I would be sooooo angry. Cold sores are actually, well I can't remember off hand what the STD is but it is passed on from mother to child during birth. If it was something my family had I would make sure they didn't play with makeup when she had a break out. Why would she even think that was acceptable. She neglectfully infected your daughter with this, oh my god.

Sorry, I am still soooo pissed for you, what she did was totally wrong!!!!!

Honestly I don't remember any post making me as angry as this one. Your poor daughter, so unfair!

Campho phenique works really good for me!

As others have said, it is Herpes Simplex. My husband would get them for years, but we never knew it was a contagious thing,. Then it came out in me when I was pregnant with my second child. I am so concerned that it will pass to my children, but so far it has not (7 & 8). The doctor has prescribed a great lip gel that we put on when we see it starting, so look into that for your daughter. One time I put the gel on and it went away, so I sopped the gel. Then it came back with a fierce breakout, so I had to take prescription medicine (which they have for it). The doctor said I should not have stopped so soon, so now I keep putting it on for a couple days. The doctor said that it can pass with a kiss on the cheek. I do not understand that personally, but just watch when she has a breakout, and ask her to be aware of it so she does not kiss anyone while that is happening. I believe you can still kiss her on the cheek (since the sore is not there). When she is older, explain it to her, since it could be passed in a sexual manner, so with her future husband, she will need to be careful. (sorry, but we have to be prepared for the future).

Yes, the neighbor should have advised the daughter not to share her lip stuff.

Sorry you have to go through this.