Mum Warns After Her One-Year-Old Son Contracted Herpes From An Unknown Person

A mother has shared her heartbreaking story to warn others to be cautious about people who go near their kids after her one-year-old son contracted herpes from an unknown person.

Samantha Rodgers, from Des Moines, Iowa in the US, was left devastated after her son, Juliano, contracted the virus that he will have to suffer for the rest of his life. “It sucks because it’s a lifelong problem now. I don’t know how to handle this. I am trying my best. It breaks my heart, and I can’t do anything to help him,” she said.

She said that on July 21st, she noticed red blisters in and around Juliano’s mouth, but doctors told her he had the flu or just a bad case of Hand Foot and Mouth disease.

However, Juliano’s symptoms worsened, so Ms Rodgers took him to Blank Children Hospital. “His sores were growing onto his hands and his neck and his stomach,” Ms Rodgers said.

Juliano was tested for herpes simplex type 1 virus and the results came back positive.

HSV-1, which causes cold sores, is generally harmless in adults, but it can be very dangerous to newborns who have vulnerable immune systems.

The American Academy of Pediatrics explained that cold sores are highly contagious and can spread through saliva, skin-to-skin contact or by touching an object that someone infected with the virus touched.

Thankfully, Juliano is now recovering and should be going back home from the hospital soon.

Ms Rodgers said that she doesn’t know who gave her son the virus, and now, she posted the heartbreaking photos of her son to warn other parents to be more aware of people going near their children.

“All I can say is just be cautious, it can be anybody your best friend, your sister, your brother, or your mom,” she said.

“If you see a cold sore or anything on them just don’t let them come by your baby.”

Source: Dailymail.co.uk