Children can be exposed to herpes via two viruses--HSV-1 and HSV-2. Although both can cause genital herpes, HSV-1 is usually responsible for oral infections. Both viruses can be transmitted by person-to-person contact, and herpes can also be transmitted from a mother to her child in utero or during delivery when the baby passes through the birth canal. When a child contracts herpes as a newborn, the condition is referred to as neonatal herpes. Knowledge of the symptoms of herpes in children can help parents and caretakers get prompt and often lifesaving medical attention.
Symptoms of Pediatric Oral Herpes
Symptoms of oral herpes in children can include fever, irritability, pain and a decreased appetite, according to keepkidshealthy.com. Children with oral herpes often develop ulcers in and around their mouths and on their tongues. These ulcers can cause problems with swallowing and drinking liquids because of the pain they cause. Although treatment is not necessary as symptoms usually subside within three to five days, dehydration can occur if the child does not drink sufficiently. Other symptoms to indicate that a child has mouth ulcers include increased saliva and foul breath.
SEM Disease & Neonatal Herpes
Neonatal herpes infections cause a red rash to develop on an infant's skin, eyes and mouth. This rash is referred to as SEM (skin, eye and mucous membrane) disease. SEM disease usually appears within the first few weeks of life. Early SEM signs usually appear on areas of the infant's skin that may have received trauma, such as the site of a scalp electrode.
Signs of CNS Exposure to Neonatal Herpes
Neonatal herpes can spread to the central nervous system. According to keepkidshealthy.com, central nervous system infections usually appear during the second or third week of life. They include fever, irritability and seizures. In some instances, skin lesions may also be evident.
Disseminated Herpes Symptoms
Although rare, it is possible for neonatal herpes to spread to vital organs, particularly the liver and lungs. When this occurs, it is referred to as disseminated herpes. Fever, difficulty breathing, seizures, lethargy and irritability are chief symptoms of this disease, reports keepkidshealthy.com.
