It's me – the worried Grandma again

[Worried]

I posted previously over concern with transmitting oral HSV to my 2 year old grandchild. I was with her from Dec 2nd until Dec 6th. OB started on the evening of the 3rd. I had Valtrex with me, the red spot never blistered. It was barely visible when I got home. I am always careful in general about hand washing and not spreading germs and was ultra careful once I knew. Tonight she is running a fever. My daughter says that she (the mom) has had a cold for 2 days and the child caught her cold and also has a stuffy nose. I am freaking out. Previously you said 2 to 10 days, although I have read 2 to 12, 2 to 14 and even as much as 20 on the internet. Today is 10 days since I left her, 12 days since I knew and went into ultra careful mode. How would it present in a child? Would it start with fever? My daughter sees no sores or spots but wouldn’t check inside her mouth. She says to stop feeding negative energy into it, it’s a cold. I don’t want to feed negative energy into it, I just don’t want to overlook a health concern in a so young baby girl. I am overwhelmed with worry, guilt and shame. If my daughter will even talk to me about it, what should I tell her to look for?

[Terri Warren]

Cold symptoms are not symptoms of herpes. Period.
I know you are worried about your grandchild, you love her very much and would be devastated to hurt her in some way. But the symptoms that she has have nothing to do with herpes. Twenty days is too long for transmission.
I don’t think your daughter should start doing things like checking in her mouth. That would just cause her to be confused, I think.

You need to remember that in all of her little life, there will be others will cold sores that will be around her. This is a situation that just is. And not everyone will be so cautious as you. You are likely the least likely person to infect her!

If you need more reassurance or want to ask another question, please write back to me.

Terri

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