Cold sore or impetago? OT

[KerriMc]

Hello ... I posted this on the family board too, but am hoping someone, somewhere knows something about cold sores!!

I am probably going to take my dd into the doctor tomorrow if I can get her in, but I wondered if anyone here could help me a little. My 6 yr old dd has a small little crusty area next to the corners of her lips. It started as her having a little split b/w her lips, which we attributed to her lips being dry. It gradually turned into a little spot, but now there are a few other little spots with it. They have weeped a little bit, but are usually crusty. I've searched on the internet, but am still unsure.

If is it a cold sore, what should I be doing with it? I have never had one before, so I don't really know what you do to them. Does impetago start out this small?

Ugh ... she doesn't need this right now!!! We have dance recital coming up on Friday. We have rehearsal tomorrow and pictures on Thursday. Guess this means her and her sister better not share the same lipstick

Thanks for any help!

Kerri

 

[siobhan1997]

Sounds like cold sores/fever blisters, my DD gets them as well in the corner of her lips. I use Lipactin, Works great. Do you or your husband get cold sores/fever blisters?

 

[KerriMc]

I've never had one before. I know dh has had them in the past ... last time I think was before we were even married (over 10 yrs ago). My dd was sick just over a week ago, so wondering if that brought it on?

Kerri

 

[Perhillion]

I just finished medical school out here at the U of A, so maybe I can be of assistance.

Impetigo is a bacterial infection that ususally presents in preschool children and young adults living in crowded conditions, poor hygiene, and neglected minor trauma. The rash looks like little bumps at first, and then progresses to golden yellow crust surrounded by an area of redness. Treatment of the infection could range from just treating by removing the crusts and treating it with topical antiseptic soaks, or all the way up to a topical antibiotic or an oral antibiotic like cloxacillin.

Cold sores, or Herpes Simplex, is a common viral infection that quite often recurs over someone's life. The rash consists of grouped umbilicated vesicles on a red base. The vesicles are located on the skin or the lips usually, especially at lip-skin junction. It is transmitted by contact with erupted vesicles. A cold sore can also have other associated symptoms like fever, swollen lymph nodes, and a general feeling of being unwell. The cold sores will just go away by themselves, but if they're really troubling you can get a prescription for oral acyclovir that you take for 7 days. Topical antivirals typically aren't as effective.

Of course, you should go get them checked out by your family doctor. Hope this helped.

 

[siobhan1997]

I've never had one before. I know dh has had them in the past ... last time I think was before we were even married (over 10 yrs ago). My dd was sick just over a week ago, so wondering if that brought it on?

Kerri

My DD gets them sometimes when she is sick, or sometimes really tired. Every year when we go to Florida she gets them really bad on her lips. A couple of years ago she actually spread it to her shoulder area, by rubbing it with her finger and then touching her shoulder. When her lips get burned she gets them. And of course she has inherited them from me.

 

[KerriMc]

We took a trip to the doctor today and he said it is definitely impetago (bummer!). So we've put the cream on twice now and it looks like a lovely crust that I just want to rub off!!!! He said it will look much better withing two days of using the cream (an antibiotic). I just don't want my younger dd to get it. It started with a crack from dry lips b/w her upper and lower lip. The bacteria got into it from there.

Anyways ... thanks for the help!
Kerri