A mother is warning others about the dangers of overlooking cold sores after her child came down with a case of herpes.
Samantha Rodgers from Des Moines, Iowa, first told doctors how her son Juliano had developed lots of cold sores all over his body, but doctors dismissed her concerns.
Doctors told Rodgers that her son probably had the flu or a bad case of Hand Foot and Mouth Disease, but the problem only got worse, Rodgers told ABC 8 News.
“His sores were growing onto his hands and his neck and his stomach,” said Rodgers.
Eventually, Juliano was later taken to a children’s hospital where he was tested.
“They swabbed his mouth and tested it and it came back as he has herpes,” Rodgers told ABC 8.
Cold sores are a highly contagious virus and can be spread easily by saliva, skin, and touching things that are contaminated with the virus.
“Pretty much this [one] person gave my baby herpes ... but not intentionally,” said Rodgers.
The mother said she is not sure who gave her child the virus but is warning others to be careful.
“All I can say is just be cautious, it can be anybody, your best friend, your sister, your brother, or your mom, it can be anybody. Everybody needs to wash their hands, sanitize if you see a cold sore or anything on them, just don’t let them come by your baby,” she said.
According to KWWL, baby Juliano is getting better but will have to carry the burden for the rest of his life, since there is no cure for herpes.
“It sucks because this is a lifelong problem now every time he runs a fever, every time he’s sick he can have an outbreak, I don’t know how to handle this. I am trying to do the best. It’s sad. It breaks my heart and I can’t do anything to help him,” Rodgers told ABC 8.
She said Juliano will be coming home soon to finish treatment.
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