How is it possible for children to contract the herpes virus? What signs and symptoms do kids have of having herpes? And how might it be handled? The article that follows has the answers to these queries as well as more information.
The following details pertain to childhood herpes infection (Herpes):
Types of herpes in children
Herpes infection can occur in newborns, where the herpes infection is transmitted from the mother to her child in the womb before, during or after childbirth, and the infection can be transmitted to older children by kissing, touching an infected person, or sharing eating utensils, towels, or others of things with an infected person.
Herpes infection in children can be divided into 3 types:
- Topical skin herpes infection: This condition manifests as tiny, fluid-filled blisters that can appear around the mouth or eyes and eventually go away on their own.
- Encephalitis: Encephalitis can affect how the brain and spinal cord function.
- Disseminated herpes infection: This kind of herpes is the most dangerous because it can spread to the child's entire body, including vital organs like the liver, brain, lungs, and kidneys.
Symptoms of herpes in children
Children's herpes symptoms vary depending on their age and type of infection. Here's how this is explained:
1. Symptoms of herpes in newborns and younger children
Signs that a child may have herpes infection include:
- Irritability of the child.
- The appearance of blisters anywhere on the body.
- Difficulty breathing or rapid breathing.
- snoring
- Cyanosis _
- Not breathing for short periods.
- jaundice
- Bleeding easily.
- Refusal of food and drink.
- crying.
- Drooling a lot.
- fever.
- Lymph glands swell .
2. Symptoms of herpes in older children
Older children usually get herpes skin infection, often around or inside the mouth, causing sore mouth and pain in the lips, gums and throat. Additionally, the mouth's lining may be swollen, red, and covered in numerous blisters and sores.
Gums that are red and swollen, fever, muscle aches, a general sense of exhaustion, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck can all be symptoms of herpes infection in children.
Herpes infection can, in extremely rare circumstances, lead to encephalitis, which can cause drowsiness, behavioural changes in children, and occasionally epileptic seizures.
Treatment of herpes in children
The treatment of herpes in children varies according to the type of infection, symptoms, age of the child, his general health, and the severity of his condition. This is explained by what follows:
1. Treatment of topical cutaneous herpes infection
This type of infection may not need treatment, as it can go away on its own within a week or two, and while there is no treatment that can eliminate the virus, it is possible for some treatments to help relieve pain and prevent infection for a while. long, and we mention the following aspects of these treatments:
- Use cold compresses .
- The child might feel more at ease if they consume cold foods and beverages.
- Take a pain reliever, such as: Paracetamol.
- To relieve pain, put some of the doctor's prescribed topical medications in the child's mouth.
- Until the infection is gone, feed the baby with a spoon or cup rather than a bottle.
- Offer soft foods to the child if he refuses to eat.
However, if the child has a severe infection or is at risk for a severe infection, for instance because of a compromised immune system, the doctor may need to prescribe antivirals.
2. Treatment of disseminated herpes infection and encephalitis
Encephalitis and disseminated herpes infections, in contrast to localised herpes infections, can be fatal if untreated.
As a result, antiviral medications administered intravenously over a period of several weeks can be used to treat herpes in children in these situations.