Most people are aware that newborn babies have fragile immune systems. They haven’t been exposed to any of the big, bad bacteria and viruses in the world, which means that until they can start getting vaccinations of their own, their people are responsible for keeping them safe.
Pregnant women get flu shots and tetanus-diptheria-pertussis shots. Partners and grandparents get them, too, and for those first three months, anyone with a runny nose and some common sense stays far away.
What you might not think about when considering whether to get near – kissing-level near, I mean – a newborn baby, though, is the herpes virus. Not the one that infects your nethers (though you should absolutely keep that away, too), but the one that manifests in cold sores on your mouth.
Photo Credit: Facebook
That’s why this viral post by new mom Lucy Kendall is getting so much attention – she almost lost her two-week-old son to a terrifying infection passed through a cold sore. She made this post on Facebook detailing what had happened, how they found out, and how baby Oliver was treated – along with the wonderful news that he has made a full recovery.
Photo Credit: Facebook
Photo Credit: Facebook
Some babies aren’t so lucky, and Lucy wants all of us to be aware of the dangers a simple cold sore can pose to a newborn. Statistics say that a third of infants who contract neonatal herpes will not survive, even with treatment, so it’s not something to take lightly.
The first signs are a high temperature and unwillingness to feed, followed by sores. If your baby is ever listless, hard to wake, or struggles to breathe you need to seek emergency help right away.
Photo Credit: Facebook
It’s important to be informed when a newborn is coming into your life, so make sure and heed this warning from a mom who has been there – but wishes she hadn’t been. Keep those sweet babies close and safe through flu season and beyond!
