{"id":664359,"date":"2026-10-24T21:36:32","date_gmt":"2026-10-24T21:36:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/664359\/"},"modified":"2026-10-24T21:36:32","modified_gmt":"2026-10-24T21:36:32","slug":"cold-sore-danger-for-newborns-irish-parents-warned-it-could-be-fatal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/664359\/","title":{"rendered":"Cold sore danger for newborns: Irish parents warned ‘it could be fatal’"},"content":{"rendered":"

A doctor has issued an urgent warning about the dangers of cold sores around newborn babies, after Meg Edmonds’ daughter Magnolia died aged just 10 days from neonatal herpesSamantha Bartlett Assistant Editor, Social News and Sean Crosbie<\/a><\/p>\n

13:10, 20 Oct 2026<\/p>\n

\"Mum<\/p>\n

Some parents may not know about this(Image: Natalia Lebedinskaia via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

A cold sore might be a painful nuisance for an adult, but the virus responsible for it can have catastrophic consequences for a newborn. A doctor has cautioned that anyone suffering from a cold sore must refrain from kissing a baby, whose developing immune system renders them susceptible to potentially life-threatening illness.<\/p>\n

The guidance follows mother Meg Edmonds speaking out this week about losing her daughter Magnolia, who passed away in February at merely 10 days old after contracting the herpes simplex virus (HSV). It is believed that the infection may have been transmitted to Magnolia by her mother.<\/p>\n

Cold sores are small, fluid-filled blisters that typically appear on or around a child’s lips, chin, or cheeks.<\/p>\n

They stem from the Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 (HSV-1), which is exceptionally common and easily spread amongst children through close contact.<\/p>\n

HSV-1 spreads via direct skin-to-skin contact including kissing or touching. It can also pass through shared items such as utensils, towels, water bottles, and toys, reports the Irish Mirror<\/a>.<\/p>\n

When a child initially contracts HSV-1, the symptoms can be more serious. It may cause painful sores inside the mouth and gums (gingivostomatitis), high fever, and swollen lymph nodes.<\/p>\n

After the initial infection, the virus lies dormant within the nerve cells. It can later reactivate into a typical cold sore, triggered by stress, illness\/fever, sun exposure, fatigue, or cold weather.<\/p>\n

Addressing the topic of cold sores in young children, GP Dr Shruti Nathwani shared a reel on her Instagram page where the accompanying text read: ‘The no kissing the newborn rule isn’t just for adults. Big brothers and sisters can get cold sores too.’.<\/p>\n

Expanding on this further in her caption, she clarified: “Children can get cold sores (HSV-1) too and in young children, a first HSV infection doesn’t always look like the classic single cold sore.<\/p>\n

“It can cause multiple painful mouth ulcers, red or swollen gums, fever and difficulty eating or drinking, known as herpetic gingivostomatitis.<\/p>\n

“With children back to nursery and school it’s important that we’re aware of how to protect a newborn at home.<\/p>\n

“For most healthy older children and adults, HSV-1 causes a relatively minor, self limiting illness. In a newborn, it can be very different.”<\/p>\n

Dr Nathwani stressed that neonatal herpes is “rare but potentially very serious” and can affect the skin, eyes and mouth, the brain and central nervous system, or spread across multiple organs.<\/p>\n

“Around 10% of neonatal HSV infections are thought to be acquired after birth and a recognised route is being kissed by someone with an active cold sore,” she noted.<\/p>\n

The GP recommended that should a sibling, parent, grandparent or visitor have a cold sore, they must refrain from kissing the baby until it has completely healed, and ought to thoroughly wash their hands before handling the infant. The GP also advised that anyone with a cold sore should avoid touching it and then touching the baby, and should cover cold sores where possible.<\/p>\n

According to the medical professionals, babies are thought to be most vulnerable during the first six weeks of life.<\/p>\n

The doctor stressed you ‘shouldn’t assume every mouth ulcer is a cold sore’, as there are many other potential causes. However, she clarified that if there’s a newborn in the home, it’s advisable to refrain from kissing them and seek medical guidance if you have any worries.<\/p>\n

She also highlighted the fact that neonatal herpes doesn’t always result in visible blisters.<\/p>\n

“If a young baby with possible HSV exposure becomes unwell, including poor feeding, unusual sleepiness or irritability, fever, breathing difficulties, seizures, or sores on the skin, eyes or mouth, seek urgent medical help and mention the possible HSV exposure,” she said.<\/p>\n

Symptoms and stages of cold sores in babies<\/p>\n

1. Early warning signs (Day 1-2).<\/p>\n

Unlike older children who can describe tingling sensations, babies display early distress through changes in behaviour, such as.<\/p>\n

2. Blister formation (Days 2-3).<\/p>\n

3. Rupture and oozing (Days 4-5).<\/p>\n

4. Crusting and scabbing (Days 5-8).<\/p>\n

5. Healing (Days 9-14).<\/p>\n

Typical cold sore symptoms to watch for in infants<\/p>\n

An initial HSV-1 infection in an infant frequently causes herpetic gingivostomatitis; a more extensive infection within the mouth rather than merely a single lip blister. Key indicators include:.<\/p>\n

Urgent red flags to look for In infants under 4 to 6 weeks old, the immune system cannot isolate the virus, making HSV exposure a medical emergency.<\/p>\n

Seek immediate emergency medical care if a baby shows any of these signs:.<\/p>\n

What happened to Magnolia?<\/p>\n

Magnolia’s mother Meg developed ulcers on her lips and mouth on the day she gave birth. She sought guidance and questioned whether she had a cold sore, but stated that midwives and pharmacists reassured her it wasn’t.<\/p>\n

Magnolia, whose nickname was Maggie, was born “perfectly healthy” and fed well during her first few days. However, by Day 3, she had become lethargic.<\/p>\n

Over the following week, she developed breathing difficulties, a weak, high-pitched cry, a rash across her chest and a sore eye.<\/p>\n

The newborn subsequently turned grey and cold to the touch. Meg said her symptoms were attributed to breastfeeding complications, jaundice and weight loss.<\/p>\n

Maggie was transferred to the paediatric intensive care unit at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.<\/p>\n

By that point, however, the virus had spread throughout her body, causing multiple organ failure. She went into cardiac arrest the night before she died on February 11.<\/p>\n

Blood tests confirmed HSV-1<\/p>\n

Meg believed her own infection had been transmitted to her daughter. She said: “It was caused by HSV-1 that had come from a cold sore. The virus came from me which is so devastatingly hard to now live with the fact.<\/p>\n

“I don’t even know how I contracted the virus as no one around me had cold sores at the time, but that’s what’s so dangerous about it, it can be anywhere.<\/p>\n

“It seems that my infection was likely the source of the infection in Maggie as I was breastfeeding. Tragically, we only became aware of this after she died so I continued to breastfeed her until it because excruciatingly painful and then I still gave her the expressed milk from my breast as I was advised it would help her be less lethargic.”<\/p>\n

Meg added: “The guilt is obviously unbearable, it’s horrific, but I just try and remind myself that I didn’t know and I did what I could have done with the knowledge that I did have.<\/p>\n

“I didn’t know a cold sore could kill my baby. Had I at least been made aware of the dangers of a cold sore and the symptoms to look out for, my daughter would still be here today living the whole life she had ahead of her.”<\/p>\n

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