Ambulance 912HAP 9252
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A child with mouth blisters caused by herpes

A first herpes infection can cause painful blisters and ulcers in a child's mouth. Children often drink poorly, drool more and may have a fever. Dehydration is the main immediate risk. Avoid contact with the eyes. Herpes needs particular attention in young babies and children with reduced immunity. Call a doctor for poor drinking, little urine, unusual drowsiness, eye symptoms or possible exposure in a young baby.

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  • A first herpes infection can cause mouth blisters and painful ulcers in children.
  • The main immediate concern is often that pain prevents adequate drinking and causes dehydration, rather than the virus itself.
  • Avoid contact with the eyes, as herpes affecting the eye needs prompt assessment.
  • Make contact particularly quickly for young babies and children with reduced immunity.
  • Outside office hours, call HAP 9252 for urgent GP care. Call 912 only for an immediate threat to life.

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G
Genital herpesGenital herpes is a common infection caused by the herpes simplex virus. The first outbreak may be painful, with blisters, sores or burning, but many people have mild symptoms or none at all. You can pass on the virus without visible blisters too. Herpes needs extra attention during pregnancy because a newborn baby can become seriously unwell.
H
Hand, foot and mouth diseaseHand, foot and mouth disease is a viral infection that mainly affects young children. It often starts with a fever, sore throat or loss of appetite, followed by painful mouth ulcers and blisters or spots on the hands and feet. The illness usually clears up on its own, but a sore mouth can make drinking difficult. Watch closely for dehydration, unusual drowsiness and difficulty breathing.
A
A child with feverFever in a child is often caused by a virus and usually clears up on its own. However, it can also indicate a more serious infection, especially in very young children, unusually drowsy children or those drinking little. Bo Dòkter advises a low threshold for medical assessment in children under 3 years; babies and children with warning signs need prompt assessment.