The treatment of herpes in children is an almost impossible process. This is due to the fact that the herpetic virus, entering the body, cannot leave it so easily. The only option is to muffle unpleasant symptoms and avoid dangerous consequences.
You also need to understand that it all depends on the individual characteristics of the child. In one child, herpes can occur every three months, while another child may completely forget about this problem until adulthood, when the virus "wakes up" against the background of an infectious or any other type of disease.
On the other hand, you need to be prepared for the fact that almost every baby suffers from this ailment. Moreover, according to scientists, 100% of people on Earth have cytomegalovirus, and 90% have ordinary herpes.
Also, the treatment of herpes in children directly depends on the type of virus. To date, there are 8 categories of this pathology. Having studied their manifestations and features, you can decide how serious the ailment is.
Herpes Types
Let us consider in more detail all varieties of this viral ailment:
- Herpes of the 1st type. This herpes is also called simple. It is found in a huge number of people and rarely prevents them from living a full life. If we talk about the symptoms and treatment of herpes type 1 in children, then the ailment, as a rule, does not require emergency therapy, and it manifests itself in the form of rashes on the lips and on the wings of the nose. As a rule, redness does not itch and is not so noticeable. Therefore, most often, many do not even suspect the presence of this pathology.
- Herpes of the 2nd type. In this case, rashes appear on the genital areas. This kind of ailment is much less common. However, quite often, treatment of herpes in a child (type 2) must be carried out, since infection can go to the birth canal in girls, and in boys, it can affect the glans penis. In this case, children experience severe itching, which can develop into herpetic sore throat and stomatitis.
- Herpes of the 3rd type. In this case, we are talking about the well-known chickenpox. One option for this type of herpes is herpes zoster. However, in children such problems are quite rare.
- Herpes of the 4th type. This variety is also often called Epstein-Barra virus. A similar ailment can provoke the appearance of infectious mononucleosis. This severe disease affects the lymphoid system. If the child is sick with infectious mononucleosis, then in this case he will suffer from fever, enlarged lymph nodes, sore throat, swelling of adenoids, and an increase in liver size. This variety is quite dangerous, as it leads to complications and adversely affects the functioning of the immune system.
- Herpes of the 5th type. In this case, the disease progresses rather quickly into a cytomegalovirus type infection. In this case, it may even be necessary to treat herpes in a child at 3 years old or even earlier. As a rule, this is due to the fact that the baby begins to attend kindergarten, where he becomes infected with the virus. Very rarely, the disease begins with intrauterine infection and is unlikely to lead to the development of serious disorders in the performance of internal organs. At the same time, an infection of this type may not manifest itself for a long time, however, this does not prevent the baby from being a carrier of the virus.
- Herpes of the 6th type. This kind of ailment can lead to roseola or exanthema. If we talk about the symptoms and treatment of herpes type 6 in children, it is worth noting that quite often this ailment is confused with rubella. Among the main signs of an illness of parents, small pinkish papules located on the skin of the baby should confuse. When pressed on them, they begin to turn pale. At the initial stages of this pathology, the temperature may rise, however, cough or runny nose will not be observed. At the same time, the baby very quickly returns to normal. When treating type 6 herpes in children, doctors often do not start therapy for the infection itself, but try to overcome ARVI and ARI. This is due to the fact that the manifestations of this ailment are very similar to ordinary flu, therefore it is worth paying the attention of a doctor to the absence of other characteristic signs of seasonal ailments.
The 7th and 8th types of herpes have not yet been fully studied, since they were discovered relatively recently. However, there is a theory that these ailments can cause chronic fatigue.
Why does herpes appear in the same place repeatedly?
First of all, it is worth considering that after the virus enters the body, it does not immediately begin to manifest itself actively. Usually, in the initial stages, he does not find himself in any way, accordingly, the symptoms of herpes in children do not appear in any way, and treatment is not required. If the child feels well and rarely gets sick, then this pathology may not bother for years. However, as soon as the baby’s immune system weakens, for example, during acute respiratory infections, hypothermia, or when allergy attacks occur, the virus activates.
After his awakening, he begins to multiply actively, which leads to the appearance of a rash on the skin and mucous membranes. As a rule, at the same time, it is always localized in the same places. If the location of herpes has changed, then this may indicate an exacerbation of the disease.
After a while, the body gains strength and begins to actively fight the infection, which leads to the cleansing of the skin and mucous membranes. Because of this, the virus “hides” until better times when the baby’s immunity fails again. Therefore, it is rather difficult to treat herpes in children. It is never clear whether the virus really managed to overcome or whether it simply went into hibernation and will soon reappear.
When is herpes especially contagious?
If the virus is in sleep mode and hides in the ganglia, then in this situation you should not worry about the fact that it can be transmitted to other children.
However, during the period of exacerbation, it becomes especially dangerous for others, as it is quite easily transmitted. In order not to infect other babies in the kindergarten, it is worth using specialized drugs and begin treatment of herpes in children during the period of exacerbation of the disease and its active reproduction.
Can a nursing baby get herpes?
It is worth considering that during the first three years of life in the child’s body, his mother’s immunity is preserved. During this period of time, he is protected by nutrients and nutrients that he received even when he was inside the woman’s womb. Therefore, it all depends on how the representative of the fair sex felt during pregnancy, whether she adhered to a healthy diet, did not consume alcohol and other harmful components. Also, in some cases, newborns have a very weak immune system. Therefore, it all depends on many factors.
However, we can say with confidence that if the mother suffered from this virus during pregnancy or after the birth of the baby, then most likely it will be transmitted to the newborn baby.
Treatment of herpes virus in a child during an exacerbation
If the baby suddenly has unpleasant rashes, then in this case you can use the recipe for emergency treatment of the disease. To do this, you need to make lotions from 70 percent ethyl or camphor alcohol.
Alternating hot water and applying ice to the affected areas of the skin also have a positive effect.
If unpleasant vesicles appear on the skin, then in this case, it is recommended to use funds with a drying effect to treat herpes on the child’s body. For this, zinc paste, iodine and diamond brilliant green are suitable. However, use these funds carefully.
For the treatment of herpes in a child's lips and mouth, you can use solutions of furatsilina or tincture of calendula.
However, in no case should you use hormonal ointments, such as "Flucin". These funds will not only not help, but, on the contrary, will aggravate the situation. After using such funds, rashes can remain on the skin for much longer, and the vesicles can even begin to open. This is very dangerous since bacteria can get into them.
Options for getting rid of herpes
Looking at the photo of herpes in children, the treatment of which has yielded results, we can say with confidence that in this case, the complex therapy worked.
Regardless of the type of infectious pathology, you need to ensure that the baby drinks as much fluid as possible. It does not have to be water. Fruit drinks, compotes and natural juices are suitable (only first you need to make sure that the child does not suffer from an allergic reaction to one or another component).
If the child suffers from high fever with the onset of herpes, then in this case it is recommended to take children's antipyretic drugs, for example, Nurofen.
Also, for some time you can forget about herpes with the help of antiviral drugs. However, the course chosen depends on the symptoms of herpes in children and the treatment of the disease recommended by the pediatrician. As a rule, experts recommend using ointments (but not hormonal ones) if the rash is localized on the baby's lips or genitals. Also, with the help of local drugs, you can cope with shingles.
Pills should be resorted to when it comes to an acute manifestation of the ailment, since they have a stronger effect, but this is not always useful for the baby. In the most severe cases, intravenous administration of drugs may be required. However, such procedures are carried out only in the case of the most complex herpetic infections.
Antiviral drugs
If we talk about drug treatment of this type, then experts most often recommend the use of:
- "Acyclovir." This drug copes with the first three types of herpes. In this case, the tool can be used starting from the age of three. This product is sold in the form of ointments, tablets and powder solutions.
- Zovirax. It has the same features as Acyclovir.
- Viru Merza. This tool successfully fights with the 1st and 2nd type of virus. This drug is sold in the form of a gel that is applied to the skin of the baby. However, it should be borne in mind that this drug is not recommended for children, nevertheless, in especially severe cases, pediatricians prescribe it.
When not to self-medicate?
If the baby suffers from an ailment more than 3 times a year, then in this case the problems are much more serious. It is possible that the baby’s immune system is not working properly. Therefore, it is better to consult a doctor and find out the cause of a possible manifestation of the disease.
Also, it is not worth experimenting if the signs of the appearance of shingles or chickenpox are clearly visible on the skin of the baby. In this case, the development of herpes will proceed to a more complex degree.
If there is even the slightest suspicion that the child is suffering from the 3rd-6th type of herpes, then in this case it should be borne in mind that these varieties are characterized by increased infectivity, so it is best to call a doctor as soon as possible. Otherwise, all households can begin to suffer from herpes.
Vaccinations
To date, special vaccines for this unpleasant disease have already been developed. However, it should be borne in mind that this procedure began recently, so it’s very difficult to talk about its effectiveness. However, according to scarce data, this vaccination has helped many cope with an unpleasant ailment. According to studies, after vaccination, the likelihood of relapse is significantly reduced, and sometimes the disease completely recedes.
Even if the vaccine does not help completely get rid of herpes, it will help to forget about exacerbations of this pathology.
As a rule, for this type of treatment, 5 injections are required with an interval of 4 days. In this case, the course of treatment, as a rule, is at least 6 cycles.
However, it must be borne in mind that vaccination can only be done if the baby does not suffer from kidney or liver diseases. Also, this procedure is contraindicated for those who have been diagnosed with malignant tumors and intolerance to certain drugs.
Vitamin therapy
It is quite obvious that if herpes arose, then this indicates that the baby's body is weak. In this case, it can be helped with the help of B and C vitamins. Calcium also has a positive effect.
You can also start giving the child tincture of Eleutherococcus. This tool helps maintain the body in good shape, positively affects the work of the nervous system. In addition, eleutherococcus has a relaxing effect. Thanks to this, the work of the nervous system improves, the baby feels more alert and cheerful.
Folk remedies
If you watch the programs in which Komarovsky expresses his opinion about the treatment of herpes in children, then you can draw a lot of useful conclusions. For example, in order to get rid of unpleasant symptoms, you can use traditional medicine methods.
One of the most effective remedies is lemon balm and mint. If you make lotions with these plants, then in this case you can quite quickly get rid of itching and redness. To prepare a medicinal infusion, it is necessary to pour 1 tablespoon of fragrant spices with a glass of boiling water and leave for 1 hour. After that, it is enough to moisten a cotton pad in the liquid and apply it to the affected areas of the skin 3-6 times a day, depending on the abundance of the rashes. The course of treatment depends on the complexity of the disease. When the symptoms of herpes disappear, you can stop making lotions.
Also, propolis will help to cope with the disease. These bee products quickly cope with itching and redness. However, such drugs are prohibited for use if the baby suffers from an allergy to honey.
Eucalyptus oil can also help get rid of unpleasant bubbles. In addition, it has excellent antiseptic properties. Due to this, pathogenic bacteria will not spread to large areas.
You can also make a decoction of calendula. Sea buckthorn oil has a good effect. However, before embarking on an independent treatment, it is still worth consulting a pediatrician.