Fever blisters on a 2-year-old child aren't uncommon. Young children are particularly susceptible to the virus that causes these painful lesions. In fact, the highest incidence of infection occurs in children between the age of 6 months and 3 years. There's no cure for the virus that causes fever blisters; however, there are oral and topical medications that can relieve your child's discomfort.
Cause of Fever Blisters
An innocent kiss can infect your toddler with the herpes simplex virus type 1, or HSV-1, which causes fever blisters --- also known as cold sores. The virus passes through the saliva of the person with HSV-1 and enters your child's body through small cracks in the skin. Small children may also contract the virus from contaminated utensils and toys. Once your child is infected, this disease progresses in three stages. First, there's the primary eruption, then the virus enters a stage of dormancy. Finally, recurrent fever blisters can occur. According to information from the American Social Health Association, between 50 and 80 percent of American adults are infected with HSV-1; up to 90 percent of them acquired the virus as children.
Presentation
The first primary eruption in young children may be characterized by herpetic gingivostomatitis. Your 2-year-old may have blisters on her tongue and the roof of her mouth. Bright red gums and fever are also signs of herpetic gingivostomatitis. Herpes labialis --- the classic fever blister --- is characterized by painful, watery blisters around the mouth and sometimes other parts of the face. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, young children are more predisposed to herpetic gingivostomatitis than are older children and teens. Most infants under the age of 6 months don't get herpetic gingivostomatitis or herpes labialis.
Treatment
There's no way to eradicate the virus that causes your 2-year-old's fever blister; however, her pediatrician may prescribe prescription drugs such as oral acyclovir and valacyclovir, or penciclovir cream to reduce symptoms and speed up healing time. Oral medications are most successful when administered 24 hours after your child first develops symptoms. Oral medications are typically used when the HSV-1 infection is particularly severe, if your child has a weakened immune system, or if a child is under the age of 6 months. One over-the-counter treatment that might speed up healing is docosanol cream.
Other than oral and tropical treatments, the best thing you can do for your toddler's fever blister is to keep it clean and dry. Warm or cold compresses can ease your child's discomfort. Discourage your child from picking at the blisters so the site won't become infected. Wash her hands frequently. Make sure that other children and adults don't share eating utensils, washcloths or anything that comes into contact with your toddler's mouth. Discourage your infected child from kissing others, including siblings and playmates. It can take up to 2 weeks for lesions to completely heal.
Cautions
Fever blisters can come back from time to time. Although there's no way to predict when they'll show up, triggers that may stir the HSV-1 virus out of dormancy include exposure to the sun, fever, and illness, such as the common cold and injury to the lips and gums. Children who receive dental treatment may get a fever blister shortly after treatment is completed. Children who get frequent fever blisters may need to take oral antiviral medications on an ongoing basis. Be mindful that this infection can spread to other parts of the face, including the eyes, in which case you should take your child to the doctor immediately. If the virus infects the eyes, this may cause serious complications, including blindness.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Cold Sore; May 2011
- American Social Health Association: Learn About Herpes -- Oral Herpes
- KidsDr.com: Fever Blisters & Cold Sores; S. Hubbard, M.D.; 2011
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Cold Sores
- DentalResource.org; Oral Herpes and Children; D. Ravel, D.D.S.; 2004
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research: Oral Conditions in Children with Special Needs: A Guide for Health Care Providers
