Cures for Cold Sore in Children

If your child has a cold sore, she may seem miserable for several days. Although there is no instantaneous cure for cold sores, there are several techniques you can use to lessen the symptoms and help the sore heal.

What to Avoid

• One matter often overlooked by those searching for cold sore cures is what your child should avoid while the cold sore is healing. Avoiding feeding your child spicy, salty or sour foods. Any of these can exacerbate the cold sore. At the same time, make sure that your child does not stop eating and drinking. If necessary, allow him to drink nutritious fluids through a straw. In addition, encourage your child to avoid touching his eyes while he has a cold sore. Transferring the infection from the sore to his eyes can lead to an eye infection called ocular herpes. Most importantly, keep your child away from any newborn while he has a cold sore. Transferring the virus to the newborn can be extremely dangerous.

Icing the Sore

• Apply ice to the sore as soon as you become aware that it might be developing. If possible, encourage your child to keep it on the area for 5 to 10 minutes every hour. This may stop the cold sore from developing, or at least minimize the severity of the sore, by slowing the metabolic rate of growth in the skin tissue.

Tannic Acid

• Tannic acid may contain antiviral properties. Because tea bags contain tannic acid, you may want to consider pressing a wet tea bag to the site of the cold sore for several minutes every hour. For a stronger dose of tannic acid, consider purchasing an over-the-counter cold sore medication containing tannic acid. These medications are stronger than tea bags and can also be more effective.