The herpes virus does not spare anyone. A nasty sore can pop out on the lip or under the nose in both an adult and a child. It is easier for an adult to cope with herpes, since he has a stronger immune system, consciously performs all the necessary manipulations and takes precautions. But it can be very difficult to quickly cure herpes in a child's nose, since children often scratch the wounds, and the sore rapidly spreads over the skin.
How children get infected
Most often, children become infected with the herpes virus from parents or close relatives. It is almost impossible to completely isolate a child for the entire period of virus activity, which can last up to 2 weeks. As well as strictly observe hygiene rules that prevent the transmission of the virus by contact. There are always untreated surfaces that everyone touches with their hands, a child can grab mother's cup, and mother can pick up a toy from the floor with unwashed hands. This is already enough for the virus to enter the child's body.
It happens that herpes is transmitted from mother to baby during childbirth, through the mucous membrane lining the birth canal. The virus is so ubiquitous that occasionally it even manages to overcome the placental barrier and infect the nervous system of the fetus. Sometimes this leads to his death and termination of pregnancy. But more often the child is born a carrier, and at the first opportunity, herpes on the child's nose declares its presence.
It is especially easy for a child to "pick up" herpes in a kindergarten or a medical facility, where many children are constantly present. The virus is very resistant, so it can live on surfaces and toys that have not undergone special treatment for up to several weeks. It will not work to prohibit the child from playing with peers. But to teach him to wash his hands every time after playing, before eating and not drag them into his mouth if desired is quite realistic. And this greatly reduces the risk of infection.
The activity of the virus can be provoked:
- the wrong daily routine, because of which the baby does not get enough sleep;
- unbalanced diet, which leads to vitamin deficiency;
- chronic runny nose, frequent colds;
- constant stress, due to which the baby does not sleep well and often cries;
- dry or dusty air in the room - weakens the protective functions of the mucous membranes.
In children who are breastfed, immunity is stronger, since breast milk contains antibodies that protect the baby from the effects of pathogenic microorganisms.
It is necessary to carefully monitor the nutrition of the "artificial" - to choose only high-quality adapted mixtures, additionally fortified.
First symptoms
It is advisable to start treating herpes as soon as you notice his first symptoms in the baby. When first infected, they are very similar to the common cold:
the child is constantly crying;- lack of appetite;
- body temperature rises sharply;
- diarrhea is possible;
- the baby is restless, does not sleep well.
the child is constantly crying;And only for 2-3 days in the nose or on the lips of the child, rashes characteristic of herpes appear in the form of small bubbles filled with transparent liquid. After a while, it becomes cloudy, the bubbles burst and form ulcers. This is the most dangerous period in which the virus spreads easily. When dense crusts are formed, the healing process begins, or rather, the completion of the active stage of the virus.
A small child cannot yet complain of discomfort, but older children can catch the moment of the very onset of the disease. Usually, before the bubbles appear, severe itching begins at this place, the baby constantly scratches it, complains of an unpleasant burning sensation. If antiviral treatment is started at this stage, blistering can be prevented.
What to choose?
How to treat herpes in your baby's nose - folk or traditional means - is up to you. We recommend not experimenting and using modern antiherpes drugs. At the very least, they guarantee quick relief from the external manifestations of herpes. And if there are no sores in the nose, then the focus of the spread of the virus will disappear. He will not move to other parts of the body, and the child will not be so contagious to others.
Folk remedies do not guarantee a quick cure. Moreover, if you know that the baby's immunity is weakened due to a recent illness or other reasons. And if herpes rarely causes serious complications in an adult's body, then its danger to a child is much higher and should not be underestimated.
When there is no treatment at all, herpes develops unhindered in the child's body, one by one affecting vital organs. This leads to diseases of the nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, inflammation of the meninges, conjunctivitis, keratitis, stomatitis, intestinal ulcers.
In severe cases, the joints are affected, paralysis of the limbs is observed, and meningitis develops.
Traditional treatment
Treatment of herpes in a child should begin with a visit to a doctor, preferably an immunologist. Only he can objectively assess the state of the baby's immune system and determine what type of therapy he needs. The most effective is complex therapy, which includes:
- Drinking plenty of fluids, which helps to quickly remove the toxins formed during the vital activity of the virus from the baby's body.
Enhanced nutrition, with a predominance of dairy products, dietary meats (rabbit, veal, chicken breast), fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat fish. Seeds, nuts, berries are useful.- Antihistamines to relieve itching and irritation: Diazolin, Tavegil, Claritin. The child will scratch the wounds less and spread the infection throughout the body.
- Vitamin therapy. Increased dosages of vitamin C are needed to activate the immune system, vitamin A - to improve the condition of the skin and mucous membranes, vitamin E - to accelerate the process of tissue regeneration.
- Antiherpes drugs: tablets and ointments to transfer the virus from the active stage to the sleeping one as soon as possible. These funds should be selected by a doctor, more often Zovirak, Acyclovir, etc. are prescribed.
- Immune system stimulants: Dekaris, Interferon, Anaferon, Immunal, Taktivin, Gamma Globulin. They help the body to powerfully attack the virus and significantly weaken it.
- Physiotherapy procedures, the action of which is aimed at disinfection and speedy wound healing. Excellent results are obtained with a quartz tube, a non-contact method of treatment with darsonval, laser moxibustion, cryotherapy.
Enhanced nutrition, with a predominance of dairy products, dietary meats (rabbit, veal, chicken breast), fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat fish. Seeds, nuts, berries are useful.In parallel, drugs are necessarily prescribed for the external treatment of the formed crusts and wounds. For these purposes, both pharmaceutical preparations and proven folk remedies can be used.
As you can see, this approach is much more effective than treatment with only home methods, and the duration of the active period of herpes is significantly reduced.
Sore treatment
Treatment of herpes sores with the right choice of funds is also an effective complex treatment. Therefore, it is better if it is carried out not with one, but with several drugs with different effects:
Drying agents: zinc or sulfuric ointment, concentrated essential oils, alcoholic plant tinctures, celandine juice. They contribute to the rapid formation of crusts and wound closure.- Antiviral: antiherpes ointments ("Acyclovir", "Gerpevir", etc.), oxolinic, interferon, bonafton and other types of ointments with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
- Enzyme preparations: help to exfoliate the formed crusts faster, thus preventing the appearance of scars. They are used in the form of lotions with pancreatin or lysocin.
- Oils and oil solutions. They are needed to soften the crusts, prevent them from cracking and early detachment. Suitable "AEVit", sea buckthorn, rose, grape seed oil, wheat germ, pumpkin, apricot.
Drying agents: zinc or sulfuric ointment, concentrated essential oils, alcoholic plant tinctures, celandine juice. They contribute to the rapid formation of crusts and wound closure.Such treatment should be carried out several times a day, at each stage of the disease with suitable means.
We do not recommend treating a child with such folk remedies as earwax, burnt paper, treatment with valocordin, smearing with garlic, dusting with ashes, cauterizing with a hot spoon. If for adults such methods are simply ineffective, then on the delicate skin of a child they can cause severe irritation, suppuration, inflammation and simply delay the healing process for an extra few days.
Prevention measures
It is impossible to protect a child from contact with carriers of the herpes virus - such, according to scientists, are up to 80% of the adult population of the planet and a fairly large percentage of children. Therefore, the only thing that can be done is to take all measures to strengthen the baby's immune system, which will provide him with protection from the active phase of the virus, even if it enters the body.
This is not so difficult to do, it is enough to regularly take preventive measures:
walk daily with the child in the fresh air (if he is healthy, and the weather is not too bad);- provide him with moderate physical activity: give him the opportunity to run, play outdoor games, do gymnastics;
- perform hardening procedures: wiping with a damp towel, walking barefoot, contrast shower, other water procedures;
- organize the optimal daily regimen, in which the baby will not get very tired and will be able to get enough sleep;
- to provide a full-fledged diet with a variety of vitamins and minerals;
- if possible, protect from stress, be interested in his mood and internal state.
walk daily with the child in the fresh air (if he is healthy, and the weather is not too bad);Even if a healthy strong baby "picks up" herpes, he may not show himself at all for a long time. And if it is activated at the moments of a sharp weakening of immunity, then its manifestations will be short-lived and insignificant.
