Fever Blister Treatments for Children

Fever blisters (otherwise known as cold sores) are small red bumps that appear as sores on the lips, gums and sometimes nose or cheeks that affect about 20 percent of children. They are caused by the herpes simplex virus, and usually last one or two weeks. You can't cure a fever blister, but there are several over-the-counter treatments for children as well as some herbal treatments.

Over-the-Counter Medicine

• Most fever blisters clear up on their own, but there are some medications that might help reduce the healing time. Topical creams can reduce pain, itching and redness. Look for antiviral creams such as docosanol cream (Abreva), which will decrease symptoms and healing time. Abreva is not recommended for children under 12, so ask your doctor before administering it. Children's Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen can be given to ease pain. Never give a child Aspirin.

At Home or Alternative Medicine

• When you first notice a sore developing, apply ice to reduce swelling and redness and to alleviate pain. Lemon balm, which is found in many European over-the-counter treatments for fever blisters, contains monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, which can slow down the herpes simplex virus. You can make a homemade infusion by combining 2 to 3 tsps. of finely chopped leaves with half a cup of water, soaking a cotton ball in the solution, and then dabbing it on the sore several times a day. You can also make an infusion using myrrh by make pouring 1 cup boiling water over 1 to 2 tsps. of powdered myrrh. Let the mixture steep for 10 to 15 minutes, and then apply to fever blisters several times a day.

Prescription Treatments

• If over-the-counter or home treatments don't help or the sore is especially painful or irritating, a doctor can prescribe antiviral agents called nucleosides and nucleoside analogues -- which keep the virus from reproducing. Penciclovir 1 percent cream, acyclovir and valacyclovir are prescription antiviral drugs which have been approved by the Federal Drug Administration for the treatment of fever blisters in children. A severe episode may be treated with antibiotics. A prescription mouth rinse containing Benadryl and Kaopectate can help alleviate pain. If your child is less than 6 months old and develops a fever blister, contact your pediatrician for treatment.

Diet

• The herpes virus that causes fever blisters thrives on the amino acid arginine. If your child has frequent fever blisters, avoid feeding him nuts, chocolate and seeds. Instead, encourage your child to eat foods high in lysine, such as kidney beans, split peas, chicken, fish and corn. An initial outbreak might cause eating and drinking to be especially painful. Encourage your child to drink water to prevent dehydration. Also, avoid giving your child spicy or acidic foods while she has a fever blister, as these could cause further irritation.

Prevention

• Once a child is infected with the herpes simplex virus, which is common between the ages of 6 months and 3 years, you can't cure it, but you can take steps to prevent or reduce new break-outs. UV rays from the sun can trigger fever blisters, so using a sunscreen prevents them. Common illnesses like colds, which weaken the immune system, can trigger the herpes virus, so treating colds quickly and keeping your child in good general health can prevent sores from recurring. If your child has a fever blister, make sure to wash his hands (and your own) after touching it and limiting kisses to prevent the spread of the virus to other parts of his body or other family members.