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Cold Sores: Infections
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Neonatal herpes, infection of newborns with herpes simplex virus type 1 or type 2—the causes of genital herpes and cold sores—should routinely be reported to health authorities, say experts. In a commentary published in the September issue of the journal Sexually Transmitted Diseases, some of the nation’s leading researchers in herpes infections point out that unlike all comparable health problems in newborns, neonatal herpes is a reportable condition in only 7 states.
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Ninety percent of all people get at least one cold sore in their lives. This first occurrence is often the worst. Some children who are affected may become seriously ill. After the first infection, many people develop antibodies and never have another cold sore. About 40% of American adults... have repeated cold sores.
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Although cold sores are not especially dangerous to people with suppressed immune systems, shingles can be life-threatening. Anybody whose immune system is suppressed should discuss any and all medications they are taking with their physician and alert their doctor to any illnesses or infections they get as soon as possible.
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Cover the cold sore with a petroleum-based product to speed healing and avoid additional bacterial infection. Pure petroleum jelly, or a pain-relief product like Neosporin will work to seal in the herpes virus, minimize irritation, and keep out further infection.
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Ideally, infection with HSV 1 or 2 can be prevented by stopping a child from kissing or touching someone with a noticeable cold sore. However, in practice this is almost impossible as someone without symptoms can transmit the virus anyway.
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