Warning to parents: Don’t allow strangers to kiss your babies!

Baby Brookes was admitted for 5 days after contacting the virus

Claire Henderson gave this warning on her Facebook page after her baby girl, Brooke, after her baby was hospitalised and almost killed by cold sore virus. She reported that the sores started appearing on her face, in the back of her throat and on her lips.
She said a friend who knew about the potential dangers told her to take her to hospital immediately. Ms Henderson, from Doncaster, said: "I know this sounds like I am scaremongering but if my friend had not told me about this my baby girl could have been very seriously ill.
"I noticed the signs early and got her to A&E, we have now been in hospital on a drip for three days and have got another two to go. She was VERY lucky, all her tests came back clear."
She explained that babies cannot fight off the cold sore virus, also known as herpes simplex, before they are three months old because their immune systems are not strong enough. Brooke is now recovering well and all her tests for brain and liver damage have come back clear.

Brooke recovering well

Ms Henderson said: "The moral of the story is DO NOT let anyone kiss your newborn’s mouth, even if they don’t look like they have a cold sore – 85 per cent of the population carry the virus.
"And if someone has a cold sore ask them to stay away until it has gone."
According to the World Health Organisation the oral version of the virus, HSV-1, is common throughout the world and is a lifelong infection with no cure though the symptoms can go into remission.
Neonatal herpes, which can also be transmitted by infected mothers during childbirth, is rare but can be fatal.

Source: The Independent