Herpes occurs in children. Signs, types and development of herpes: the correct treatment of the virus in a child. What parents need to know about childhood herpes on the body

Herpes is a collective name for viral diseases caused by different types of herpes viruses. The herpes virus is polytropic, that is, it can affect almost any organ in the human body. To date, 8 types of herpes are known that affect humans.

Children are susceptible to herpes just like adults. Most often, infection occurs from parents in the family or already sick children.

This disease can be of several types, however, primary herpes is typical for children. Babies in the first years of life get sick very rarely, as they are immune from their mother. They become more susceptible to the virus by the age of 3-4, but by about 5 years, 60% to 80% of their number already have antibodies to it.

Types of herpes in children

It is worth distinguishing between herpes simplex viruses type 1. This is the best known type among the herpes simplex viruses, which manifests itself on the lip of a child, is characterized by a general malaise, sometimes a slight fever occurs. Mouth ulcers are most common in children aged 1-2 years, but they can appear in people at any age and any time of the year.

The second type of herpes is genital, which manifests itself in a similar way. During childbirth, if the mother suffers from genital herpes, the baby can become infected while passing through the birth canal. Manifestations of this type of herpes in children are more complicated than in adults. Children may suffer from herpetic sore throat and stomatitis.

The herpes virus of the 3rd type (varicella zoster virus) in children during primary infection causes chickenpox; in the secondary manifestation of the virus, the disease passes as herpes zoster (lichen).

Herpes type 6 in children causes baby roseola - pink maculopapular rashes. Basically, babies under the age of 2 years are susceptible to it. First, a fever develops, then the temperature decreases within 3-6 days. After a decrease in temperature, an exanthema appears on the skin - pink maculopapular rashes of 1-3 mm, turning pale when pressed (this is one of the hallmarks, with the same rubella, the rash does not turn pale after pressing). They may disappear after a few hours, and may persist for up to several days. The rash is localized mainly on the body, spreading to the neck, face and limbs

Herpetic viruses of the 4th, 5th, 6th types can cause infectious mononucleosis - an acute infectious disease characterized by fever, sore throat, enlarged lymph nodes, liver and spleen, lymphocytosis, and the appearance of atypical mononuclear cells in the peripheral blood.

Cytomegalovirus, a member of the herpesvirus type 6 family, is one of the most common viruses. Children become infected with cytomegalovirus infection usually in early childhood - for example, in a nursery or kindergarten. Transmission of cytomegalovirus can only occur through direct contact with an infected person. In addition, children can be infected with the virus during fetal development. The infected environment is blood, urine, saliva and other biological substrates. Usually, cytomegalovirus in healthy children is asymptomatic or accompanied by minor symptoms similar to those of mononucleosis and disappearing after a few days or weeks.

Human herpesvirus type 6 and type 7 during primary infection causes neonatal exanthema in infants. Only a specialist can accurately diagnose the state of health of a child.

Herpes in babies

Herpes in children can be more difficult than in adults. Herpes is an insidious infection, herpes in infants can cause severe damage to the nervous system and internal organs. With damage to the visual organs, keratitis, phlebothrombosis, chorioretinitis, iridocyclitis occur. With the defeat of the ENT organs, sudden deafness, herpetic sore throat and damage to the inner ear may occur. The defeat of the cardiovascular system manifests itself in the form of myocarditis, atherosclerosis, myocardiopathy. If the herpes virus penetrates the central nervous system, then there is a risk of encephalopathy, meningitis, and nerve plexuses are affected. Herpes can also lead to the occurrence of schizophrenia, depressive disorders. On the part of the reproductive system, a violation of the reproductive function, urethritis, prostatitis (in men), colpitis, endometritis and chorionitis (in women) is possible.

Herpes symptoms

Symptoms of herpes in children are traditional: there may be fever, fatigue, muscle pain, irritability. Pain, burning, tingling and itching occur at the site of future rashes of infection. The rash is followed by ulceration and sores. Children tend to comb the wounds until they bleed, constantly touch them, peel off the formed crusts, which makes healing difficult and prolongs its duration. Herpes simplex on the lip of a child, at best, heals within a few days. Ulcers can also occur in the mouth: on the gums, front of the tongue, inside of the cheeks, throat, and palate. The gums may be slightly swollen, red, and may bleed. They may also extend down the chin and neck. The lymph nodes in the neck often swell and become painful. In children, the herpes virus can infect the mucous membrane of the throat with the formation of small ulcers and a grayish coating on the tonsils. Since the ulcers are painful, it may be difficult to eat or drink. A sick child should not eat solid or hot food during the period of herpes in the oral cavity. With constant injury to the wound, healing can take two weeks or more. Parents need to control this process.

Treatment of herpes in children

For the treatment of herpes infection, antiviral drugs, immunostimulants, interferons are used. Treatment of an infection should be started at the first suspicion of a disease, recovery depends on this, a neglected infection becomes chronic or recurrent, and the likelihood of complications increases. Treatment of herpes in children is aimed at minimizing the manifestation of symptoms, suppressing the activity of the virus. For this, antiviral drugs are used - ointments and tablets that relieve itching and pain. It is necessary to take a large amount of liquid, as well as antipyretics when the body temperature rises to high numbers.

The antiviral drug used for herpes infections is acyclovir. This drug can be used both in the form of intravenous injections and in the form of tablets. The method of administration of the drug depends on the severity of the disease and its form. The drug is administered intravenously at a dosage of 30-60 mg/kg of the child's body weight, through the mouth - 90 mg/kg. The drug should be divided into 3-4 parts. Also, this drug can be used externally in the form of an ointment. It must be applied to the affected areas of the skin and mucous membranes 4-5 times a day.

Immunostimulating drugs help the child's body fight the virus more effectively and prevent the virus from infecting new areas of the mucous membranes and internal organs. For treatment, you can use immunostimulating drugs such as immunal, groprinosin, arpetol.

Interferons contribute to the destruction of viruses and do not allow them to multiply uncontrollably. They can be used both in tablet form and in the form of candles. Candles are introduced into the anus of the child 2 times a day for 5 days, repeat the course 2-3 times with a break of 5 days.

With a fairly frequent recurrence of the disease, you need to contact an immunologist who will give qualified advice that can significantly increase the immunity of a weakened child. Among other things, the treatment of herpes in children should be supervised by a doctor, since only a specialist can calculate the correct dosage that is safe for the child's body.

The herpes virus, once in the child's body, remains in it for life, periodically exacerbating, causing temporary discomfort. The main task of parents is to help the child, strictly following the instructions of the pediatrician. Particular attention in solving the existing problem is given to hygiene, providing the baby with individual means, such as a towel, soap, washcloth. The child should wash their hands more often. In the presence of herpes in the oral cavity, the child should not be allowed to injure herpes sores.

Prevention of herpes in children

To prevent herpes, it is necessary to follow the rules of personal hygiene and not use other people's personal belongings, avoid close contact with people with herpes. To strengthen the child's immune system, proper nutrition, vitamin therapy in the autumn-spring period, and the use of immunostimulating drugs in prophylactic doses in the winter period are necessary. Preventive use of antiviral ointments during an influenza epidemic by burying in the nose 1-2 times a day.

The herpes virus is extremely common - every living creature on the planet suffers from it from time to time, with the exception of only certain types of fungi and algae. Both adults and children are constantly faced with a herpes infection. And some of these infections can take deadly forms. And this means that parents are required to know the symptoms and methods of treating herpes in children.

The herpes virus, once it enters the body of a child, remains in its cells forever. No one has yet been able to get rid of a herpes infection once and for all, but it is quite possible to make sure that herpes in a child manifests itself as rarely as possible and proceeds as easily as possible ...

Herpes many-sided

According to scientists, the herpes virus is incredibly diverse - it has from 80 to 100 (according to various studies) variants of varieties. True, only nine types of the herpes virus can cause certain diseases in humans, including children. But this is a lot! Indeed, among the diseases that arise due to the fault of a herpes infection, there are also deadly ...

Indeed, nine types of herpes cause a whole bunch of human diseases: for example, the well-known, and the so-called labial herpes (notorious), and genital herpes, and, and cytomegalovirus infection, unfamiliar to most parents, and exanthema (kind of) and many others. For example, herpetic encephalitis, which causes irreversible brain damage in a child, is considered extremely severe and dangerous.

The herpes virus is not a disease or diagnosis in itself. The concept of "herpes" is akin to the collective term "feline family", under which many "pussies" of all conceivable sizes and colors are grouped. So it is with herpes - its various types can cause a wide variety of different diseases, but they all fit the definition of "herpetic infection".

Herpes is transmitted among children and adults by airborne droplets and contact. As a rule, by the age of 5-6, already 85% of all children in the world have the herpes virus in their bodies, which penetrates the cells of the nervous system and stays there in an inactive state for the rest of human life.

While the child's herpes "sleeps" - he does not manifest himself in any way and does not bother his "owner" with anything. But under certain circumstances, the virus sometimes “wakes up” and develops vigorous activity (first of all, it begins to multiply rapidly), stimulating the occurrence of a particular disease.

Most often, people (including children) are faced with the so-called herpes simplex virus - it is he, by the way, that causes those very nasty vesicles on the lips that prevent young ladies from going on dates.

How dangerous is the herpes simplex virus for a child?

The herpes simplex virus includes herpes simplex viruses types 1 and 2. Both are capable of causing a wide variety of diseases in children, some of which are deadly.

It is generally accepted that herpes type 1 causes "sores" of the upper body (everything from the navel and above) - for example, the same ill-fated labial herpes. While the type 2 virus, on the contrary, attacks the second half of the body (the one that "stretches" below the navel) - for example, the disease "genital herpes" is caused by the type 2 herpes virus.

Herpes on the lips, chickenpox or banal - not the most terrible manifestations of the herpes simplex virus in children. Much more dangerous are herpetic lesions of the eyes and genitals, extensive lesions of the skin and even internal organs (for example, specific pneumonia).

Finally, the most terrible and dangerous herpetic disease caused by the activity of the herpes simplex virus is herpetic encephalitis. In the vast majority of cases, this disease leads to irreversible and severe brain damage.

How does the herpes simplex virus manifest itself in children: symptoms of a herpes infection

The most obvious and common symptom of almost any herpes infection in children is a rash on the skin and/or mucous membranes. They can be of different types (vesicles, as in labial herpes, or bright red pimples such as urticaria, or individual sores, as in chickenpox). But most often the rash manifests itself in the form of small bubbles, which eventually burst and turn into sores.

A particular "bubble" rash is the most common and obvious symptom of herpes virus activity in children. In addition, there are specific symptoms of herpes, which vary depending on where exactly the herpes infection "popped up".

In company with a rash on the skin or mucous membranes, naturally, burning and severe itching are often observed.

What determines the frequency of rashes with herpes in children

There are circumstances that directly affect how often the herpes virus will manifest itself in a child - for example, rashes will be observed once a year, or every month. These circumstances include:

• General state of immunity;
• stress;
• Any infectious disease (while the immune system is fighting another “sore”, nothing prevents the herpes virus from moving on to active actions);
• high temperature, fever;
• Injury;
• Active sun (oddly enough, but bright and prolonged sunlight that affects the skin provokes a high activity of the herpes virus in the body);
• Drying of the mucous membranes (due to a respiratory disease, or for a reason, etc.).

It is impossible to live life and never meet the herpes virus. Already in childhood, he begins to attack us under different "disguises" - mononucleosis, chickenpox, a sudden rash on the skin ... But even in the same family there can be children who "easily" get sick with herpes infections and those who do not get sick at all. It turns out that the resistance to the activity of the herpes virus in the body is determined primarily by the genetic and individual characteristics of the immune system of each individual baby.

Treatment of herpes in children

All herpetic infections are most dangerous for children with weakened immune systems. Accordingly, the stronger the child's immunity, the less likely the herpes virus to start to "disgrace".

If, during the analysis, antibodies to the herpes virus are found in the blood of a child and there are no clinical manifestations of herpes infections (there are no characteristic rashes and other symptoms), then, accordingly, this child does not require any treatment - his immune system does an excellent job itself.

It is necessary to treat herpes in children only if there are “obvious” clinical manifestations of viral activity. Moreover, even the most effective and modern drugs used against herpes infections fight only active viruses, without affecting the "sleeping" and inactive herpes viruses.

Recall that the virus itself remains in the human body for life after the first infection, and it is impossible to eliminate it completely, “in the bud”. Any treatment against herpes in children is aimed only at eliminating the activity of the virus, making its manifestations less severe, frequent and prolonged.

The most effective medicine against most manifestations of the herpes virus in children is the substance acyclovir. This is a pharmacological drug that can quickly inhibit the reproduction of the herpes virus. At one time, the appearance of acyclovir made the same revolution in medicine as the appearance of penicillin.

The peculiarity of the interaction of almost all antiherpetic drugs (including acyclovir) and the herpes viruses themselves is that the more active the viruses, the more effective the effect of the drug. And vice versa: the lower the activity of viruses, the more useless the medicine.

Thus, it is obvious that antiherpetic drugs do not work at all on “sleeping” in cells and inactive viruses. This means that drug therapy for prevention in the case of herpes is not only ineffective, but generally inappropriate.

Moreover, this applies to both local preparations (ointments, creams and gels that treat rash sites) and general drugs (for example, tablets).

Antiherpetic drugs for oral use "work" faster and more efficiently than any topical ointment.

However, only a doctor can prescribe adequate anti-herpes therapy to a child, and then not immediately, but only after assessing the general immunity of the baby, after a blood test and other studies.

Prevention of the herpes virus in children

Medical scientists have long been struggling to develop anti-herpetic vaccines. In part, they succeeded - even now, for example, in many countries of the world, effective vaccinations against chickenpox are successfully used.

The specificity of herpes, as a disease, is that children become infected with it much more often than adults. The reason here is the widespread prevalence of the virus: even if the parents and close relatives do not have the disease, already at the age of two or three years the child will involuntarily encounter a carrier. And how many babies get infected from sick mothers during pregnancy or immediately after childbirth!

At the same time, it is impossible to excessively protect a child with a normal immune system and health from infection by creating sterile conditions for him. The human body is able to develop lifelong immunity to almost all types of herpes, and once a child has the disease, he will be reliably protected for the rest of his life. It is only important that this first infection is easy and without complications.

Types of herpes viruses that most often cause illness in a child

Of the more than 200 types of herpesviruses, 6 types are the most common in humans. Children become infected with them just as easily as adults, and therefore in many cases they have been ill with the corresponding diseases at a younger age.

These viruses include:

• herpes simplex viruses types 1 and 2, which lead to the appearance of characteristic rashes in the form of transparent bubbles in the place through which the infection occurred. Children most often introduce the virus through their mouths with unwashed hands, household items, and certain foods. Therefore, their symptoms are most often localized on the lips (in the form of a so-called cold on the lips);
• Herpes virus type 3, called in Latin Varicella zoster. Causes chickenpox, which in people who have already had it, in rare cases, is replaced from time to time by recurrent shingles;
• Herpesvirus type 4, or Epstein-Barr virus, which is the cause of the development of infectious mononucleosis. According to statistics, by the age of 13, up to half of children are infected with this virus, the disease in which occurs in a blurred or asymptomatic form. A terrible consequence of infection with this virus is Burkitt's lymphoma, which affects children in the countries of equatorial Africa;
• Herpes virus type 5, also called cytomegalovirus. Its feature is in most cases the asymptomatic course of the infection and the absence of any consequences of infection, which is why the vast majority of people - including children - are carriers of it;
• Herpes virus type 6, very famous to pediatricians for causing sudden exanthema. It is very often confused with rubella, for which it received its second name - pseudorubella.

Despite the fact that all of these viruses are widespread in children, the first three types cause the most trouble. Not only are the diseases they cause characterized by vivid symptoms, but also the sick often have various complications in the form of stomatitis, gingivitis, meningitis, encephalitis and other diseases.

Such complications appear most often after the transfer of a primary infection, but relapses are usually much less dangerous. Yes, and the primary infection with herpes usually causes complications only with a weakened immune system in a child.

All herpetic infections have their own specific clinical manifestations and features when infected with them, and therefore deserve a separate description. Below we will dwell in more detail on herpes simplex in children caused by herpes simplex viruses types 1 and 2.

Characteristic symptoms of diseases

The symptoms caused by herpes infections in children are very similar to those in adults, but most often they are much more pronounced. Much here depends on the age at which the child became infected.

When a child is infected in the first days or even hours after birth, they usually talk about neonatal herpes, which is characterized by a special symptomatic picture and the specifics of the course.

In children of a later age, the symptoms of the disease manifest themselves somewhat differently. So, at the first, prodromal stage, it is not always possible to understand that it is herpes that begins in a child. At this time, the child becomes less mobile, his temperature rises, he experiences severe malaise and weakness. Often at this stage, headaches and sore throats appear, which are a sign of herpangina. It is easy to mistake such signs for a cold and start fighting the wrong infection.

At the next stage, red, itchy rashes appear on and around the lips, in the oral cavity, sometimes around the eyes. As their intensity increases, the strength of itching increases, which then turns into pain.

Further on the rashes appear transparent bubbles filled with a colorless liquid. In appearance, they are identical to the same vesicular rashes in adults, but are located on a larger area and can be much more pronounced. With the development of herpetic gingivitis and stomatitis in a child, bubbles appear not only on the outer skin, but also in the oral cavity - on the mucous membranes, tonsils, tongue and gums. At the same time, they look like small white dots on the gums, no less painful than vesicles in other places.

Over time, these bubbles become opaque, and the liquid in them begins to resemble pus. All this time, the patient is worried about severe pain, and with herpangina - problems with swallowing food. Small children may scream a lot and sleep poorly when the disease is severe.

At the next stage, the bubbles burst, a liquid flows out of them, in which viral particles are teeming - there are literally billions of them, and a small sore appears in the place of each bubble. It quickly becomes covered with a crust and in this form ceases to disturb the child.

The last stage is the healing stage. The skin at the site of the sores is restored, the scabs crumble and no traces of the disease remain.

Approximately the same symptoms are characterized by neonatal herpes, which, however, has its own specifics.

neonatal herpes

Neonatal herpes is often referred to as congenital. In many cases, children become infected during childbirth or in the first hours after them, and the symptoms of the disease appear in them in the first days of life. The severity of symptoms and the course of the disease in them depends on the timing of infection.

The most severe consequences of infection of the fetus in the early and middle stages of pregnancy: in this case, the child may develop hydro- and microcephaly, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, cirrhosis of the liver, hepatitis, damage to the lungs and eyes.

If the child is infected directly during childbirth or shortly after them, he can develop one of the three forms of neonatal herpes:

1. Localized form, characteristic of approximately 20-40% of newborns with neonatal herpes infection. It usually affects the skin and mucous membranes of the eyes and mouth. There are usually no generalized symptoms, but single or grouped vesicular elements appear on the skin. Most often, the appearance of bubbles occurs a week or two after birth. After another two weeks, with proper treatment, they completely heal, leaving no traces behind;
2. A generalized form in which there is a full range of symptoms: initial fever, lethargy, regurgitation, shortness of breath and apnea, cyanosis, and symptoms of pneumonia. Very often, the adrenal glands and the liver are involved in the pathological process. This form of herpes manifests itself in 20-50% of cases, while a fifth of infants have generalized symptoms without subsequent skin rashes;
3. A striking form characterized by lesions of the nervous system. It is characterized by the development of encephalitis, meningoencephalitis, observed in 30% of cases, and with antenatal infection of the fetus, the development of microcephaly, hydrocephalus, and the appearance of intracranial calcifications is possible. The manifestation of the infection is generalized and is characterized by trembling, convulsions, cerebrospinal fluid, a decrease in the child's appetite, and cytosis.

As a rule, the incubation period for infection during childbirth lasts from two to thirty days, and it is at the end of it that symptoms of the disease appear.

Ways of infection of children with herpetic infection

Infection of a child with herpes in most cases occurs when communicating with peers or adults who are carriers of the virus.

In very many cases, the infection comes from the mother during a relapse in her herpes. This is especially true for infants: during this period it is extremely difficult to follow all precautions to protect the child from infection. In addition, it is at this stage that the mother herself quite often restricts her diet, which leads to hypovitaminosis, reduced immunity and the occurrence of a relapse of the disease.

In any case, each carrier of the virus, even in the latent phase, can be a source of infection. Therefore, direct contact of a child with a person who has ever had herpes is a risky situation.

In addition to direct contact, infection can also occur in the following ways:

• household way - through common utensils, food or clothing;
• by airborne droplets, when a person with a recurrence of a cold on the lips is nearby;
• from the mother during childbirth or pregnancy.

The latter mode of transmission of the virus is most relevant if the mother becomes infected with herpes for the first time during pregnancy. Here the risk of infection of the fetus is quite high, and such an infection is fraught with miscarriage.

According to statistics, out of 100 thousand newborns whose mothers are not immune to the herpes simplex virus and became infected for the first time during pregnancy, 54% of babies are born with a congenital herpes disease. If the mother has immunity to one of the two types of herpes viruses, then this value decreases to 22-26% of babies per 100 thousand newborns.

A recurrence of herpes in a mother while carrying a child can also lead to infection of it, however, in this case, serious consequences are less likely to occur, since the fetus is protected by maternal immunity.

Innate immunity of the child to herpes

If before pregnancy the mother managed to become infected with the herpes simplex virus, then with a high probability nothing threatens her child until the age of six months. In a mother with normal immunity, after the first acquaintance with the virus (even if it passed in her childhood), the immune system produces specific antibodies that, when they encounter the virus again, quickly and reliably destroy it.

These antibodies are called immunoglobulins, usually referred to as Ig. Against herpes viruses, Ig classes M and G are produced. It is they who are looked for in the blood during diagnosis.

Of all the immunoglobulins, only IgG successfully penetrates the transplacental barrier due to its small size. They create immunity against herpes in the fetus, with which even a newborn baby will be immune to the virus.

However, the lifespan of these antibodies is only a few months, and after about six months they no longer remain in the child's body. Then he becomes susceptible to herpes infection. This is also evidenced by statistics: the peak of primary infection in children falls on the 8-13th month of life.

It is also important that antibodies are transmitted to the child along with colostrum and mother's milk. The longer, therefore, the mother breastfeeds the baby, the longer it will protect him from herpes infection.

Accordingly, if during pregnancy a mother becomes infected with herpes for the first time, the virus infects both her tissues, without causing her too much trouble, and the tissues and organ systems of the fetus, which is often the cause of many complications and disorders in its development.

Complications of herpes

In general, not even herpes itself is dangerous for children, but its complications. They can lead to serious violations of the functions of individual organs, and sometimes even to disability and death.

Among the most common and dangerous complications are the following:

• Encephalitis and meningoencephalitis, developing both in newborns and in older children. Without treatment, such forms are lethal in 90% of cases, and with normal treatment - in 50%;
• cerebral palsy, which develops as a response to a severe form of infection in newborns in the absence of treatment;
• Eye diseases: keratoconjunctivitis, iridocyclitis, corneal erosion, episcleritis, chorioretinitis, uveitis;
• DIC;
• Stomatitis and gingivitis;
• Liver damage, sometimes up to hepatitis;
• Herpangina and inflammation of the tonsils.

In general, in severe forms of the disease, damage to the nervous system is characteristic, therefore, encephalitis, epilepsy and the development of cerebral palsy are the most dangerous. It is important that generalized forms of herpes in the early stages are often confused with other infections, which leads to a delay in treatment and loss of time to fight the disease. That is why early diagnosis is important.

Diagnostic methods

Speaking about the diagnosis of neonatal herpes, it is necessary first of all to say about the systematic and continuous monitoring of the mother's condition during pregnancy.

Registration at this stage of a recurrence of the disease or primary infection will allow in the future, if the child has the appropriate complications, as quickly as possible to establish their correct cause.

An important method for diagnosing herpes is to examine the child to identify characteristic rashes in him. In addition, the crying of the child and his refusal to eat can be the result of damage to the gums and mucous surfaces of the mouth.

Quite clear signs of herpes are also convulsions of unknown origin or sepsis, which does not go away with a targeted fight against bacterial infections.

In addition to symptomatic diagnosis, it is necessary to conduct instrumental and laboratory studies:

• "gold standard", based on the cultivation of the virus from various fluids and mucous substances of the body and characterized by high sensitivity and specificity;
• electron microscopy;
• immunofluorescent method and direct detection of the virus in the fluid of vesicles;
• polymerase chain reaction;
• study of pathologies of the placenta, the state of the heart, liver, tomography of the brain.

In most cases, when blisters appear, further diagnosis of herpes is no longer required, and it is necessary to start treating the disease as soon as possible.

Therapy: medications, folk remedies and treatment regimens

When treating herpes in children, it is important to understand that even a localized form of the disease, without proper control, threatens to develop into a generalized infection.

If any external symptoms of a herpes infection appear in newborns or older babies, antiviral therapy, for example, with Acyclovir, is necessary. It is administered intravenously in the amount of 45 mg per kilogram of body weight of the child per day. If the infection is generalized or there are symptoms of meningoencephalitis, the dose is increased to 60 mg / kg per day.

The terms of treatment for localized and generalized forms are, respectively, 14 and 21 days.

It must be remembered that enteral administration of Acyclovir is often ineffective.

The areas of rashes on the skin of a child themselves should be treated with Acyclovir or Zovirax ointments 3-4 times a day.

If a child has damage to the eyes and periocular membranes as a result of the disease, they are prescribed to be treated with a 3% solution of Vidarabine, a 1% solution of Ioddioxiuridine, or a 2% solution of Trifluridine.

Immunoglobulins Pentaglobin, Sandoglobin, Intraglobin, Cytotec, Octagam are very effective in combating herpes infection. They are direct destroyers of the virus in the body and therefore are widely used in the treatment of generalized infections. Interferons are often used - Viferon 150,000 IU 1 time per day rectally for 5 days - and antibiotics to suppress the activating microflora.

In parallel, the child's therapy should be carried out to maintain the vital functions of his body.

From folk remedies for the treatment of herpes, decoctions and infusions of St. John's wort and licorice are used. They contribute to the speedy healing of sores at the site of the rash.

Do not be afraid of the penetration of the herpes simplex virus into the mother's milk with a relapse of her illness. Even with the treatment of the child, it is necessary to continue breastfeeding. Exceptional cases from this rule are situations when, with a relapse of the disease in the mother, the rashes are on the chest.

Prevention of childhood herpes

Prevention of herpes in children varies, depending on the form of the disease itself.

Prevention of neonatal herpes consists in the timely detection of infection in the mother, monitoring her health and monitoring the condition of the birth canal, vulva and perineum.

If the manifestation of a herpes infection in the mother took place before the 36th week of the term, it is necessary to conduct antiviral therapy for the mother with Acyclovir before the birth of the child. This will ensure the possibility of natural childbirth.

If the first episode of the disease occurred in the mother after 36 weeks, a caesarean section is necessary to prevent herpes infection in the child.

In the future, the main principle of the prevention of childhood herpes will be regular and possibly longer breastfeeding. It is important to protect the baby from contact with people with obvious symptoms of a cold on the lips, and if the mother has them, avoid kissing the baby. If contact with the baby is necessary, a mother with recurrent herpes should wear a cotton-gauze bandage and wash her hands thoroughly.

If the child has already suffered a cold on the lips, the best prevention of re-exacerbation of the disease will be a correct, plentiful and vitamin-filled diet, an active lifestyle and frequent exposure to fresh air. And if a baby has any diseases, it is necessary to cure them as quickly as possible, since even simple sore throats greatly undermine immunity.

And remember: the more healthy lifestyle a child leads, the more reliably he is protected from herpes. Therefore, sport, hardening and fresh air will always be the most reliable defenders of this common disease.

Health to you and your baby!

The latent herpes virus of one type or another is present in the body of every person, as a rule, since childhood. The frequency of manifestation of the virus depends on many factors, but above all - on the state of the human immune system. Herpes can become active several times a year in some people and not manifest itself in any way during life - in others. This virus is considered safe for a healthy body of preschool children and adolescents, but can cause severe complications in infants or unborn babies with intrauterine infection.

What is herpes in children

Herpetic infection in children, as well as in adults, is a viral disease that affects the skin and mucous membranes, including the mouth, lips and face, and genitals. It presents with symptoms that usually include sores that develop into characteristic itchy and painful clusters of vesicles. The virus spreads from person to person through direct contact with the skin or mucous membranes, as well as through household items. The disease can be passed from mother to child during childbirth. Airborne infection is not ruled out.

In children, the infection usually invades through the mucous membrane of the oral cavity, organs of the upper respiratory system, less often through the genitals. Having penetrated through tissue barriers, the virus is in the blood and lymph. Subsequently circulating through the body, it enters various organs.

The herpes virus in children often manifests itself on the lips and around them, on the side surfaces of the nose, in the oral cavity; less often - on the trunk and limbs, extremely rarely - on the genitals.

A viral infection is embedded in the DNA of nerve cells, from where it is no longer possible to expel it. Herpes remains in the human body until the end of life, but remains there in an inactive form. A healthy immune system counteracts the development of the disease by producing specific antibodies that neutralize the virus particles circulating in the bloodstream. However, under the influence of negative factors, such as colds, freezing or lack of vitamins, immunity can fail, allowing the virus to become more active. The pathogen begins to multiply in the epithelial cells of the skin and mucous membranes, which leads to disruption of their nutrition and death.

Types and symptoms of a viral infection

The herpesvirus family is divided into 3 subfamilies (alphaherpesviruses, betaherpesviruses, gammaherpesviruses), which include more than 100 types of viruses, but only 8 of them are dangerous to humans, including children:

Virus diagnosis

If a child is suspected of being infected with a virus, first of all, you need to contact a pediatrician, who, if necessary and depending on the location of the rash and other symptoms, will refer the patient to a narrower specialist: a dermatologist, urologist, immunologist.

Diagnosis of the virus consists of two stages:

• medical examination in order to detect external signs of the disease;
• laboratory tests that detect the presence of the virus in blood and other body fluids.

The doctor can easily determine herpes simplex visually, but other types of the virus may not show themselves outwardly or disguise themselves as diseases with similar symptoms. In these cases, confirmation of the diagnosis using laboratory methods is required. They make it possible to identify even inactive forms of the virus, to determine its type and concentration.

The main types of analyzes that include laboratory diagnostics:

1. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A new high-tech method for examining blood (or any other biological fluids), which reveals even the smallest concentrations of the virus. Based on repeated copying of DNA and RNA fragments of the pathogen and subsequent comparison with the existing database to accurately determine the type of pathogen.
2. Enzyme immunoassay (ELISA). A blood test method based on the antigen-antibody reaction. An antigen is a foreign molecule of protein origin, and an antibody is an immunoglobulin that is produced to bind antigens and then destroy them by immune cells. Identification of the relevant compounds in the blood serum allows you to establish the presence of the virus and its concentration in the blood.
3. Immunofluorescent analysis (Koons method). The express diagnostic method is based on the processing of biological material with a special substance (fluorochrome), which illuminates antigens in the UV rays of a fluorescent microscope, making it easy to detect them, though only at a significant concentration.

Most often, the PCR method is used for diagnosis, and this is quite enough. The expediency of prescribing one of the other two research methods is determined by the attending physician. At the discretion of the doctor, additional diagnostic methods may be prescribed, for example, an immunogram that demonstrates the general state of the immune system (the number of certain immunoglobulins). This analysis is necessary for the correct selection of therapy to stimulate the body's defenses.

Treatment tactics

It makes sense to treat a herpes infection in children in the first 3 days from the onset of the rash. Late initiation of therapy will not be effective and will not significantly affect recovery. Usually the symptoms go away on their own and regardless of therapeutic measures. Antiviral therapy is prescribed without fail for frequent relapses, prolonged or extensive rashes. Treatment is aimed at relieving the child of the symptoms of the disease in the form of sores and vesicles, as well as limiting the further spread of the virus and the progression of a localized form to a generalized one. Antiviral therapy includes the following groups of drugs:

A sick child must be isolated from the team in order to avoid infection of other children. While the virus is active, the child should be allocated their own dishes and other personal items for use, since herpes is transmitted in everyday life.

Mode and diet

Bed rest is indicated in cases where the child has a high temperature (with chickenpox, infectious mononucleosis, roseola). It is important to provide the patient with a plentiful warm drink (water, tea, compote) and often ventilate the room, maintaining a comfortable temperature and humidity in it.

When the herpes virus is activated in the body, it is recommended to refrain from foods high in arginine and low in lysine, two of the eight natural amino acids. The virus needs arginine for its growth. Foods rich in arginine can make cold sores worse. These include:

• peanut;
• chocolate;
• carob;
• wheat;
• oats;
• soy products;
• some types of nuts;
• sesame seeds.

It is better to temporarily refuse the listed products when the virus is active, and not to abuse them after recovery.

Excess consumption of refined carbohydrates (baked goods, pasta, carbonated drinks) suppresses the immune system. Sugar does not allow the body's cells to absorb vitamin C in the required amount, which reduces the ability to resist infection.

The basis of the diet of a sick child should be products such as:

• bird;
• fish;
• beef;
• eggs;
• beans;
• colorful fruits and vegetables.

These products have a high lysine/arginine ratio. In addition, kale, cauliflower, and broccoli (cruciferous vegetables) have been shown to be helpful in fighting the herpes virus. They reduce the intensity of pain and discomfort that accompanies an infection.

Folk recipes

For a speedy recovery from the herpes virus, it is useful to take fish oil in the dosage prescribed by the doctor. For the treatment of bubble formations, you can use:

1. Apple vinegar. It is famous for its disinfectant, anti-inflammatory and astringent properties. It is enough to dip a cotton pad into a small container with natural vinegar and apply it on the affected area for 10-15 minutes. The acetic acid may cause a slight tingling sensation, which should not be a cause for concern.
2. Hydrogen peroxide is a disinfectant and one of the most effective home remedies for herpes. It can be applied to a cotton pad and placed on the affected area, or mixed with water and used as a mouthwash for oral ulcers. For children aged 3 to 10 years, rinsing is prepared as follows: 1 teaspoon of peroxide (3%) per 120 ml of water. For children 10 to 16 years old: 1 dessert spoon with the same amount of water. It is recommended to rinse several times a day until cured. The procedure should not be used in children under 3 years of age.
3. Garlic. Contains allicin, which exhibits antiviral activity. In addition, garlic has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that are quite helpful in reducing the inflammation caused by cold sores. Grind a clove of garlic and cover the rash with the resulting slurry for 10-15 minutes. It is recommended to carry out the procedure for 3-5 days.
4. Peppermint. Peppermint tea soothes inflammation and relieves pain caused by cold sores. Peppermint oil also contains a specific compound that helps fight the herpes virus. It is beneficial to consume the tea from the plant twice or thrice a day while applying peppermint oil to the affected areas. So you can provide the patient with double protection: from the inside and outside.
5. Tea tree oil. Due to its pain-relieving, antibacterial, and anti-herpetic properties, tea tree oil can be a highly effective remedy for inflammation caused by herpes. The terpenes and phenylpropanoids contained in it act as a natural antiviral agent. It is recommended to mix equal amounts of essential oils of tea tree, peppermint, geranium and myrrh and apply the mixture with a cotton pad to the areas affected by herpes.

If after using the described home remedies, the intensity of symptoms and the size of the ulcers do not decrease, an urgent visit to the doctor should be planned. Usually, a weakened immune system or any other associated complication makes the healing process difficult, so consulting a doctor in such cases becomes extremely important.

Folk remedies for herpes - gallery

Apple cider vinegar has disinfectant and anti-inflammatory properties
Garlic contains allicin, an organic compound with an antiviral effect. Peppermint is used for herpes in the form of tea (inside) and in the form of oil (outwardly) Tea tree oil contains terpenes and phenylpropanoids, which act as a natural antiviral agent.

Possible complications of the herpes virus

Some children may systematically experience reactivation of a latent virus, others experience symptoms only once after infection, then the herpes enters an inactive phase. Re-activate the virus can be such provoking factors as:

• stress;
• menstruation (in girls);
• weakened immunity due to another disease;
• sunburn.

Over time, the immune system begins to produce antibodies and the reactivation of the virus occurs less and less over the years. In a healthy child, herpes, as a rule, does not cause complications.

The virus can become dangerous for infants, although it is rare in babies under one year old, because they are protected by the mother's antibodies present in breast milk. Under the influence of the virus in young children, lesions of the visual or auditory apparatus, nervous and genitourinary systems may develop. Herpetic infection is a favorable background for frequent stomatitis - lesions of the oral mucosa. In severe cases of generalized infection, some types of herpes can lead to the development of eczema, hepatitis, herpetic encephalitis, as well.

Prevention of infection with herpes

If there is a child and adults in the house with an active form of herpes infection, the following preventive recommendations must be strictly observed:

• use a medical gauze bandage;
• temporarily refrain from close contact with the child (kissing);
• do not touch the rash, wash your hands with soap more often;
• use individual household items and personal hygiene products.

Treatment of herpes infection in children - video

The herpes virus cannot be cured in the classical sense. Once in the body of a child, it remains there forever. But it is possible and necessary to influence the frequency of its activation, strengthening the immunity of a baby or teenager with the help of suitable nutrition and a properly organized daily routine.

Questions of symptoms, methods of treating herpes in children and its consequences are of interest to many parents. It is especially important to know how this very dangerous disease manifests itself in young children who do not yet know how to speak.

Most of the population of our planet is carriers of the herpes virus. It enters the body in a variety of ways. The disease can begin immediately or after some time, when the child is especially weakened due to illness, fatigue or nervous strain.

Infection can be prevented by knowing how to protect children from herpes from the moment they are born until they reach puberty, when their immune systems are finally stabilized.

Causes of the disease

Dr. Komarovsky in his programs very popularly and reasonably described the conditions that contribute to the occurrence of herpes in a child. The source of infection is a carrier of the virus or a person whose disease is in the acute stage.

Ways of transmission of infection can be as follows:

Herpes in the blood of a newborn can remain dormant for a long time. The first months of his life are protected by immunity, which he inherited from his mother.

The virus can persist on household items for several days, remaining active. Treatment of herpes in children should begin when the first signs of this disease are detected. It can manifest itself in different ways, depending on the type of virus.

Characteristic symptoms

Herpesvirus infection in children most often occurs at the age of 3-5 years. At this time, children begin to move independently. They actively learn the world not only visually, but also through touch, tasting all objects. Children begin to attend kindergarten and contact with peers. As they grow older, they stop pulling all kinds of objects into their mouths, which significantly reduces the risk of infection.

When an infection enters the body, the incubation period can last from one day to a month.

It spreads throughout the body and lingers in the nervous system, activating at the slightest malfunction of the immune system. Each type of disease has its own characteristics. But there are signs that are common to all types of the disease.

The following symptoms of herpes in children are observed at the onset of the disease:

• increase in body temperature up to 38–39ºС;
• weakness, lethargy and irritability;
• aches in the joints of the arms and legs;
• excruciating headache;
• lack of appetite;
• rashes of a different nature.

The manifestation of the disease is individual in each child. This factor is determined by age, level of development and the presence of concomitant infectious diseases. The main sign that children have developed viral herpes is single or multiple rashes.

What are the types of herpes

In the blood, a child may have one of the eight types of virus into which herpes is divided. Such an extensive classification is justified by the clinical picture, which is characteristic of different types of the disease.

HSV types 1 and 2

The photo shows the first type of virus, which is the most common. Almost every child who reaches adulthood is affected by it. Complications in the work of the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory organs, nervous and reproductive systems provoke the occurrence of the disease.

When type 1 herpes occurs in a child, the following symptoms are observed:

• temperature rise to 39ºС;
• the appearance of many small ulcers in the oral cavity;
• rashes in the lips, nose and chin.

The disease begins with discomfort at the site of future rashes. Over time, bubbles form, which spread to neighboring areas when damaged.

Herpes type 2. As a rule, medicine associates it with damage to the genital organs. In most cases, the disease occurs in adolescents who have begun early sexual activity. The disease can also occur in newborns due to infection from the mother during gestation or during childbirth.

This type of illness can manifest itself with the following symptoms:

• rashes on the genitals, extending to their entire outer part;
• changes in the skin, resembling diaper rash;
• general malaise and weakness;
• rashes in the nasopharynx and on the tonsils, if herpetic sore throat is provoked;
• chills and fever.

The infectious genital is especially difficult. The virus causes extensive rashes throughout the body, disturbances in the digestive system and brain activity.

Other types of virus

Consequences of herpes in children

The health hazard is not the pathogenic HSV, but the complications that arise if the child's herpes is not treated. Newborns, whose bodies are not prepared to deal with a serious illness, are at the greatest risk. The lack of qualified and prompt medical care can result in disability and death for children.

The consequences of the transferred herpes can be such diseases:

• cerebral palsy;
• meningitis;
• eye damage (iridocyclitis, episcleritis, keratoconjunctivitis, corneal erosion, uveitis, chorioretinitis) or blindness;
• epilepsy;
• Down syndrome;
• chronic diseases of the liver and kidneys.

To avoid this, it is necessary to treat herpes in children immediately after the first signs of its manifestation appear. This will stop the disease at an early stage.

Diagnostics

Since the child's body is in the formative stage, his immune system is not able to resist a dangerous infection. In order to accurately and correctly determine how to treat herpes, a thorough diagnosis is carried out.

Examination of a sick child includes the following methods:

1. Review by a pediatrician. During this procedure, the doctor takes the general vital signs of the patient, assesses his condition and external manifestations of the disease.
2. A biochemical blood test is carried out, urine and feces are examined. If oncology is suspected, histological studies of tissue samples are performed.
3. Virological culture. Scrapings are taken from the rash to determine the antigen of the virus. The material for the study is blood, skin and fluid from the bubbles.
4. Carrying out ultrasound diagnostics and magnetic resonance imaging to determine the degree of damage to the brain and internal organs.
5. Consultation with specialized specialists. This helps to identify the cause that provoked the weakening of the immune system.

After the studies, the attending physician makes the final diagnosis and gives recommendations on how to treat the child.

General rules for treating a child from HSV

Herpes is a type of virus that no drugs can destroy. After entering the body, the virus enters the nerve cells and remains there until the end of a person's life. Its activation occurs whenever the child's body enters a weakened state.

At the first signs of the disease, it is necessary to perform the following measures:

1. Isolate the child from others. This is necessary in order to prevent their infection and protect the patient from infection with other diseases.
2. Provide the child with bed rest. Do not allow him to go outside and freely walk around the apartment.
3. Maintain cleanliness in the room. Wash floors regularly and dust. Ventilate the room at least twice a day.
4. Make sure the patient is drinking as much fluid as possible. You can give him juice, tea, fruit drink and compote.
5. Provide regular and high-calorie meals. Food should be rich in proteins, vitamins and carbohydrates.

If the baby has a high temperature, then it is necessary to put a wet bandage on the forehead and wipe the limbs with a weak solution of vinegar.

Parents should not make a diagnosis and choose medications on their own. The decision on how to cure herpes is the sole prerogative of the attending physician.

Medical therapy

A viral infection is treated exclusively by a conservative method. Surgical intervention is used only in the most difficult cases, when the patient has developed complications in the form of necrosis, pathological edema and suppuration. As a rule, the fight against herpes is carried out in a complex manner, using all drugs available and safe for the patient.

To get rid of the disease and its symptoms, the child is prescribed:

• antihistamines - to reduce itching and prevent an allergic reaction to medications (Suprastin, Zirtek);
• antiherpetic ointments - to prevent cracking of damaged areas of the skin and mucous membranes, to prevent the rash from spreading to other parts of the body (Acyclovir,);
• antipyretic drugs - in order to prevent the critical overheating of the patient and improve his well-being so that he is able to eat, drink and move independently (Nurofen, Paracetamol);
• antibiotics of a wide and directed spectrum of action - with the development of a concomitant bacterial infection;
• - to strengthen the immune system and restore internal organs after exposure to the virus and antibiotics.

Treatment is carried out with the help of injections, tablets and ointments. All medicines are purchased only on prescription. The treatment is adjusted every 2-3 days.

After the exacerbation period ends, the patient may be prescribed a course of physiotherapy.

Treatment with folk remedies

not used as standalone treatments. They are allowed to be used only in combination with pharmacological preparations and physiotherapy. Traditional medicine recipes are good because they strengthen the immune system, relieve irritation and inflammation.

The following procedures are safe for the child:

• lotions on the affected area from the juice of celandine;
• ingestion of a decoction of lemon balm;
• a compress of grated apples, potatoes and garlic;
• applying plantain leaves to the rash;
• rubbing the skin with the juice of wormwood, lemon or milkweed;
• treatment of damaged areas with alcohol tincture of propolis;
• applying a cloth soaked in a solution of calendula tincture and sea salt.

When using folk remedies, you need to carefully look at the reaction of the body. At the slightest sign of a negative perception of the drug, the procedure should be stopped immediately.

Preventive actions

Prevention of herpes in children should be aimed at strengthening the immune system and the comprehensive development of the child, both physically and morally. To do this, it is necessary to provide the child with a normal diet containing a sufficient amount of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins.

To prevent overheating or hypothermia of the baby, it is necessary to choose a wardrobe for him for any weather.

Due attention should be paid to the physical development and hardening of the body. At the same time, one should not forget that the child should not be very tired and get a good rest.

All identified diseases of an infectious nature must be treated until complete recovery. When detecting herpes in children, treatment should begin immediately.