Mum warns of the danger of cold sores for babies – after 8-week-old daughter nearly died
Sophie Lebner, from New South Wales, Australia, was horrified to learn Lottie's condition could have killed her within days
A MUM is warning parents of the dangers of cold sores for babies, after her eight-week-old daughter nearly died.
Coming into contact with cold sores, which are caused by a strain of the herpes virus, can be deadly for those under six months old.
Sophie Lebner, from New South Wales, Australia, was horrified to learn Lottie's condition could have killed her within days.
to raise awareness, she wrote: "For an infant Herpes Simplex Virus, within days of exposure can spread to the brain and to the organs, causing permanent damage and death if left untreated."
Sharing her symptoms "with a tear in my eye", Sophie explained Lottie developed a watery eye on Sunday, which developed into a red crusty sore on Monday.
Thinking he had conjunctivitis, the chemist prescribed a dose of saline solution for the tot.
By Tuesday, Lottie had developed red, blister-like bumps around her eye and a worried Sophie made an appointment with her GP for the next day.
The mum added: "By Tuesday afternoon I noticed two small red pimple like spots on Lottie's left hand from where she had rubbed her eye.
"I then considered she might have Hand Foot and Mouth.
"An hour later Lottie was irritable and upset, nothing would console her, however she did not have a temperature and was generally otherwise well..."
The doctor told us there was a high chance that we may have lost Lottie and that she is a real success story
Sophie Lebner
Sophie called the maternal health nurse, who said they should go straight to A&E, where she and sons Regan and Nate had an agonising hour and a half wait.
She said: "We saw a doctor who advised us that Lottie was ok and the rash would disappear after 10 days.
"And to expect it to get worse before it got better, but she was fine, she did not have a temperature, she was not lethargic, she was fine and we would be fine to go home.
"I questioned that doctor and said I was still concerned about her eye.
"What if it was an infection and what if it went into her eye and could it cause permanent damage if it did get worse?"
The doctor then phoned a paediatrician, who asked for pictures of Lottie's eye and rushed straight to the hospital.
Sophie added: "He asked me if anyone could have had a cold sore around Lottie, I said yes. Lottie's dad (Ben) had had a cold sore that week.
"He immediately told me about Herpes Simplex Virus and the danger it posed."
Lottie was hooked up to antivirals on an IV drip and was referred to the nearby Albury Children's Ward, where her parents could do nothing but wait for her symptoms to develop.
The tot was given a blood test but it takes several days for the results to come back, meaning "the only option" was to treat her as if she had the virus.
Sophie said: "The tests came back positive Lottie was indeed infected with HSV but luckily we caught it before it travelled any further.
"The paediatrician told us that had we not taken her to (A&E), had we have waited for the GP appointment the next day, had we not questioned the doctor further, had we have gone home, had we of waited even hours more to act, there was a high chance that we may have lost Lottie and that she is a real success story.
"For now Lottie is on the mend, still smiling and on a course of 14 days IV antivirals followed by 6 months of Oral Antivirals, weekly pediatric appointments and blood tests.
"We can not express just how lucky we are.
"95% of those friends and family who we have told have had no idea of the risk that a simple cold sore poses for an infant..
"We believe there is absolutely not enough education on the risks associated.
"If we had known there was such a thing and just how terrible it is then we are sure Lottie wouldn't have had to go through this.
"PLEASE SHARE - It might just save another precious little ones life."
MOST READ IN REAL LIFE
We previously spoke to a mum who revealed she knew her daughter had died in her sleep aged three when her identical twin found her and started screaming.
While this woman went through 14 years of agonising pain and thought she was going mad but she was actually suffering from a common disease that affects thousands.