Cold Sores and Your Baby: What You Need to Know

Cold Sores and Babies
Article at a Glance
  • Cold sores are caused by one of the herpes simplex viruses, HSV-1. There's no cure for the virus, and even if you don't have symptoms or an actual cold sore, you can still spread it.
  • While rare, HSV-1 infections in newborns can be deadly, causing severe brain damage. This includes transmission during birth through the vaginal canal, or by kissing a newborn baby on the face or sharing a toy or cup.
  • You can protect your baby from a cold sore by working with your OB/GYN if you know you have HSV-1 and avoiding a vaginal birth, as well as keeping baby away from adults who have cold sores. While it is more contagious when a person has an active cold sore, remember that the virus can still spread even without one.

Article at a Glance Cold sores are caused by one of the herpes simplex viruses, HSV-1. There’s no cure for the virus, and even if you don’t have symptoms or an actual cold sore, you can still spread it. While rare, HSV-1 infections in newborns can be deadly, causing severe brain damage. This includes transmission […]