DES MOINES, Iowa – A mother put out a stern warning to parents after she says her baby was infected with herpes and suffered an outbreak of cold sores.
Samantha Rodgers, of Iowa, said she noticed blisters growing outside her son Juliano’s mouth. She said doctors originally told her that the baby had the flu or a bad case of hand-foot-mouth disease.
"His sores were growing onto his hands and his neck and his stomach,” Rodgers said.
Rodgers was eventually sent to Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines.
“They swabbed his mouth and tested it, and it came back as he has herpes,” Rodgers said.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, cold sores are highly contagious and can be spread by saliva, skin and touching things that are contaminated with the virus.
Rodgers said she is not sure who gave her baby the virus, but she’s asking other parents to be aware of who is around their child.
“All I can say is just be cautious,” Rodgers said. “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.”
Juliano is recovering, but the herpes virus is something he will carry with him for the rest of his life.
“It sucks because this is a lifelong problem,” Rodgers said. “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.”
This story was originally reported by KWWL-TV.