Going to school with cold sores puts other kids at risk of getting infected.
Cold sores – commonly referred to as fever blisters – are also called Herpes Simplex Virus type-1 (HSV-1). They flare up as the result of this virus, which is passed from one person to another, or from other parts of the body. For example, you may touch your face and infect your eyelids.
Proper prevention is the only way to ensure one does not spread the virus, but there is no foolproof method. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), many children catch HSV-1 during childhood, often due to being kissed by ‘unwitting’ adult carriers.
In some cases, staying away from school is the right thing to do. In others, going to school may be the right option. Since prevention is the first step to keeping others safe, in the context of acting responsibly, let’s address when children should stay at home or to go to school.
This part might seem evident after reading the introduction, but cannot be overstated. Cold sores are highly contagious. However, they are not contagious all the time as they are often dormant. And many people have the virus but are not prone to outbreaks.
HSV-1 is commonly spread during the critical period when an outbreak is occurring. Contact with the liquid in the blister is the fastest way to transfer the virus from one person to another, and one cannot be too careful. One option is to use a cover up, such as Compeed Invisible Cold Sore Patches. These patches are medicated, so it will treat the cold sore and make them less obvious.
While they are most commonly found on or around the lips and mouth, the truth is that they can be spread to anywhere, including the cheeks and chin. One can get HSV-1 on some very prominent areas of the body, some of which can be very dangerous, such as the brain.
Close contact is often the cause of spreading cold sores from one person to another.
This includes, but isn’t limited to:
Relating to contact sports, it must be noted that during a cold sore outbreak many sufferers feel fatigue and muscle aches/pains, especially during the primary infection.
Often, athletes will power through and make sure they do not let their team down by missing a crucial practice or game, but if you are in the midst of a painful outbreak, it will only be made worse if you infect someone else, and you did not have to.
For this same reason, it is wise not to share drinks, food, or to be intimate with a boyfriend or girlfriend during an outbreak.
This can all be disconcerting, but there are proven ways to find relief from cold sores during these tumultuous periods. You can even reduce the healing time from 2 weeks to 3 days with the Virulite Cold Sore Machine. It’s FDA approved and suitable for children to use.
When you need relief from cold sores when at school, there are two ways to approach this challenge. You can try to stave them off if they are caught early enough, or you can numb the area, so they hurt less.
Products like Abreva and Zilactin are good OTC choices when you catch an outbreak before it’s reached the surface. These non-prescription medications have been helpful for some people who wish to stop the cold sore from occurring. They are not perfect, but some people have found relief.
When it is too late to prevent, there are products like HERP-B-GONE cream can help numb the affected area so that the burning, itching, or other painful or discomforting sensations can be kept at bay. This is especially important when you must go to school because of a big test, or because you already have too many absences, and simply can’t risk having another.
The best long-term treatment for cold sores is clean, healthy living. It might sound like a contradiction to some skeptics given how this virus is often overly associated with sexual conduct, but the truth is that stress increases the chances of an outbreak. The reason for this is because it compromises your immune system, and chronic stress can lead to chronic outbreaks.
There are prescription meds that are effective, as well. They are called Zovirax and Valtrex. These medications will not cure HSV-1 but can reduce the frequency and duration of flare-ups. However, they not without side effects.
There are some potential side-effects, and not all prescription medication is suitable for children who are attending school, or even college. Some people experience changes in behavior, hair loss, and confusion. There is a much longer list of side-effects people have experienced while on Zovirax. As for Valtrex, the potential dangers include skin rashes, joint pain, and vomiting.
There are no fool-proof means by which to reduce having a cold sore. However, there are OTC remedies that can help if you catch them early.
Maintaining cold sores within oneself is only half the battle. Being a carrier of the virus, it is very important to ensure that others are safe, too. This means not sharing drinks at school or utensils. If you have an outbreak or the signs of one coming on, keep your distance from others.
Lastly, when it comes to whether or not to go to school, most times it is perfectly fine. While a very small number of people experience a brief stint of debilitating pain, most people are merely inconvenienced.
And while facing one’s peers with an outbreak can be tough, the truth is that with 1 out of 2 having HSV-1, you are not in a minority. Everyone either has this virus or is close to someone who does. So, knowing that, you should go forth and have no fear. You may feel self-conscious, but when you complete your schooling, you will be able to take that credential with you and carry it forward into the future
Going to school with cold sores is likely to be necessary, just as it would be at a job. This means that children need to recognize the signs and use the Virulite Cold Sore Device as soon as you experience one of the common ‘triggers’ or notice a tingling sensation. This will cut the healing time to about 3 days. A cold sore can also be concealed from staring glances with the medicated Compeed Invisible Cold Sore Patch.
It’s sensible to check the policy for cold sores with your child’s school or nursery. The policy may be different for very young children as the virus can be spread more easily. The same applies if you’re concerned about the subject of cold sores and work.
Unfortunately, not everyone knows that they’re infected as there’s up to a 6-day incubation period where there are no visible symptoms.
Copyright 2018 ColdSoresCured