Cold Sore Virus Poses Deadly Risk to Newborns, Bereaved Mother Warns

A bereaved mother is raising awareness about the potentially fatal risks of cold sores to newborns, after her 10-day-old daughter died from the herpes simplex virus (HSV).

Meg Edmonds' daughter, Magnolia, died in February. It is suspected that the virus was passed on by her mother, who was unaware of the danger cold sores could pose to infants. For most adults, HSV is a common and painful infection, but for newborns with underdeveloped immune systems, it can be life-threatening.

"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," Edmonds said. She is speaking out as part of an infection prevention campaign by the Lullaby Trust, a charity focused on infant health.

Magnolia was born healthy after a straightforward birth. Edmonds and her partner, Ben Brookes, had taken precautions to protect their baby, including limiting visitors who were unwell. However, Edmonds had no knowledge of the risks associated with cold sores and neonatal herpes.

"I had never ever seen anything about cold sores, HSV, neonatal herpes, nothing, and it's only since that I've found so much out that I just wish I'd known before," Edmonds stated. She had been careful to avoid kissing her daughter and maintained strict hygiene practices due to having been born in winter. "I washed my hands constantly because I was worried in general about infections. But I never knew that if that passed to her it could kill her."

Research from the Lullaby Trust indicates that parents can feel reluctant to ask visitors to avoid touching or kissing their baby. Jenny Ward, the chief executive of the charity, emphasized that protecting a baby from infection is paramount. "We know that parents can feel awkward, embarrassed or even guilty about asking someone not to kiss their baby, wash their hands or keep their distance when they're unwell," Ward said. "But protecting your baby from infection is never something you need to justify."

The Lullaby Trust promotes a "THANKS" (Think Hands and No Kisses) approach, advising people to wash their hands before touching a baby and to avoid kissing them if they are unwell. "Viruses are really common, particularly at this time of year, and while we can't avoid them all we can put some steps in place to reduce the chance of your baby getting unwell," Ward added.