r/workingmoms • u/PublicAd2908 • 22h ago
Vent Possible herpes for my son
My son seems to have a red spot on his nose. I have the herpes virus (yeah yeah I got it when I was a small child) anyway, I noticed my son has a red spot under his nose. I’m not seeing any blistering but this is the EXACT spot that i get mine atz I haven’t had a breakout since last year so I don’t know if it really is it or not. But I’m panicking.
He can’t sleep right now and when I get mine it’s sore and hurts. I’m wondering if it is herpes for him. He goes to daycare and now I’m terrified. He is 3. I got mine when I was older so I know you can get it at anytime.
Anyone have any advice on what to do? Should I take him to the doctor? I’m just nervous it hurts him IF it is herpes
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u/viperemu 22h ago
There are so many things it can be - no point in stressing about it tonight! Manage the pain with Motrin and get him to the doctor in the morning. Hoping it’s easily solvable with a cream!
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u/classicicedtea 22h ago
I’m sorry. I’d take him to the doctor in the morning.
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u/PublicAd2908 22h ago
Ugh oh no
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u/classicicedtea 22h ago
It could be nothing but no one here will be able to diagnose it.
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u/PublicAd2908 22h ago
Silly question but would a pediatrician be able to diagnosis?
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u/oosetastic 22h ago
They would probably do a differential diagnosis, ruling things out and then coming to a conclusion about what is most likely the cause. They may be able to identify it better or suggest certain treatments and see which one helps.
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u/Gardenadventures 22h ago
They can essentially pop the blister, swab it, and test for HSV, yes.
Nose is not a common spot for HSV. Are you sure that's what's infecting you when you have outbreaks in a similar spot?
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u/PublicAd2908 22h ago
Hmm I think so but one time I went to the urgent care because it was like on my eyelid and they said it was shingles? lol all I know is I get meds for it when it pops up and it goes away
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u/Gardenadventures 22h ago
Ummm okay... Shingles is typically VERY painful. And it's a form of herpes virus but completely different from herpes simplex (what people usually refer to when they say herpes).
You need to get it tested next time it pops up.
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u/classicicedtea 22h ago
Maybe an urgent care would be better but I’m honestly not sure. You could call and ask in the morning.
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u/RedhotGuard21 21h ago
They can swab it to check for hsv, it's also the most accurate way to test since it would actually pick up the shedding virus.
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u/jemsz56789 22h ago
We brought our son in also when he had a red bump on his lip. Plus he was teething - 3 molars at once! The doctor said it was herpes. I was devastated because I don’t know if there’s anything we could do to prevent it. He is 16 months (this happened at 15 months). The doctor said we already have it and our immune system is good to fight it off. He likely got it at daycare. It went away within a few days. There wasn’t any medication or ointment prescribed but we def felt better having him seen. We gave him Tylenol and that helped all around because of the teething. The doctor helped reassure me that we all have it pretty much and just because he got it doesn’t mean he will get big sores or anything. So it happened. Hoping as his immune system gets stronger he won’t have many more flares.
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u/AbbreviationsLazy369 21h ago
You could ask your pediatrician if L-lysine supplements are okay, just in case. If you don’t take them I’d recommend you trying, should help your break outs.
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u/empress_tesla 22h ago
I get cold sores (caught as a child from an uncaring mother) and worry about passing them on to my son. I’ve been taking valacyclovir since he was born and it has vastly reduced frequency and severity of a cold sores outbreak.
As for your son, can he tell you if it burns or itches? Can you see a cluster of blisters or is it weeping fluid? If you’re worried about it being contagious you can put a pimple patch on it. There’s even patches made specifically for cold sores. They’re basically just hydrocolloid bandages.
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u/classicicedtea 6h ago
What did the doctor say?
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u/PublicAd2908 5h ago
I haven’t gone yet!! I will be going shortly- they were booked. My son also is just getting over an ear infection and complained yesterday and this morning that his ear hurts so I am taking him back for a follow up
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u/LetshearitforNY 22h ago
I see you’re planning to go to the doctor tomorrow which is totally the right call! To ease your mind so you’re not anxious all night my daughter had a small abscess after my sister and niece came to stay with us, and they both have had severe cases of MRSA. Not at the time of the visit ofc but like my niece and sister have both been admitted inpatient for weeks hooked up to antibiotics and my sister even had to have surgery to have muscle removed due to MRSA.
My daughter had an abscess form on her chin shortly after a visit from them and I was convinced it was MRSA. Turned out to just be a random one off abscess.
Sometimes it really is just a coincidence.
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u/PublicAd2908 22h ago
That is terrible and now I’m worried about MRSA
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u/LetshearitforNY 22h ago
I’m sorry! I really didn’t mean to make you worry. I just mean there are a million completely benign things it could also be. Hoping it is one of those
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u/CobblerBeautiful5726 22h ago
My doctor taught me to put an ice cube on a herpes sore. It stops the cells from dividing, cuts the tingle and pain immediately. It will stop swelling.
You can hold an ice cube to the sore. It's non-invasive and if the sore disappears, it's likely herpes. If it doesn't, then it's likely something else.
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u/Own-Cauliflower2386 22h ago
That’s an area that’s super common for impetigo. Go see a doctor- it won’t hurt and it might take away some of your concerns. If it’s impetigo, he might need mupirocin. If it’s herpes, might need some acyclovir. If it’s a bunch of nothing (viral exanthem, bug bite, folliculitis, or who knows what kids get red spots sometimes) at least you’ll feel better.
If it does blister, that still doesn’t mean it’s herpes but it does make it easier to send viral pcrs for diagnosis.
Herpes is common in kids, so don’t sweat it, but so are soooo many other very common things.