Newborn Baby Dies From Cold Sore Virus as Mother Claims Medics Dismissed Her Symptoms as ‘Hormones’

A mother from Staffordshire has spoken about the death of her newborn daughter from a herpes simplex virus infection, saying she was reassured that the painful sores in her own mouth were caused by hormonal changes or dehydration.

Meg Edmonds, 22, developed ulcers on her lips and inside her mouth on February 1, the day she gave birth to her daughter Magnolia, affectionately known as Maggie.

She said she asked healthcare professionals whether the sores could be cold sores but was told they were likely hormonal or a sign that she needed to drink more water.

Ten days later, Maggie died at Birmingham Children’s Hospital after contracting disseminated neonatal herpes caused by HSV-1, the virus commonly associated with cold sores. The infection had spread throughout her body and caused multiple organs to fail.

Maggie’s parents, Edmonds and her partner, Ben Brookes, 27, are now sharing their experience to raise awareness of the risks that herpes infections can pose to newborn babies.

Baby Initially Fed Well Before Her Condition Deteriorated

Maggie appeared alert and fed normally during her first two days of life. However, on the third day, her parents noticed that she had become unusually sleepy and was no longer waking up for feeds.

Over the following days, her condition worsened. She developed breathing difficulties, a weak and high-pitched cry, a rash across her chest and a sore eye. Her skin also turned grey, and her body became cold.

Edmonds and Brookes said healthcare professionals who visited them at home and assessed Maggie in hospital attributed her symptoms to issues including breastfeeding difficulties, weight loss and jaundice.

As the baby’s condition continued to deteriorate, her mother was also experiencing increasingly painful sores.

“My mouth was full of ulcers, my lips were swollen and it was painful to eat or drink,” Edmonds said.

Mother Continued Expressing Milk as Sores Spread

Edmonds said the sores eventually spread to her nipples, making breastfeeding extremely painful. After receiving advice that expressing milk could help reduce Maggie’s lethargy, she continued pumping milk for her daughter.

Having researched HSV-1 after Maggie’s death, Edmonds believes the virus may have accidentally passed from her mouth to her nipple and then reached her baby through contact during feeding.

However, HSV-1 is generally transmitted through direct contact with cold sores or infected saliva, rather than through breast milk itself.

Edmonds believes she may have passed the infection to Maggie, although she has never received a formal diagnosis confirming that she had HSV-1.

“The virus came from me, which is so devastatingly hard to live with,” she said.

“No one in our family or friends knew a cold sore could kill a baby. I didn’t even know cold sores were caused by the herpes virus until after she died.”

She said she was informed on the day Maggie died that the sores she had experienced may have been caused by a primary HSV infection, meaning it could have been the first time she had contracted the virus.

Edmonds said she did not know how she might have acquired the infection because nobody around her had visible cold sores.

Infection Spreads Through Baby’s Body

Maggie was eventually admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. By that stage, the infection had spread throughout her body, resulting in multiple organ failure.

Her parents remained with her and cuddled her as she died on February 11, following a cardiac arrest.

Medical tests subsequently confirmed that Maggie had HSV-1.

Edmonds said the experience had left her determined to help other parents understand that an infection commonly associated with relatively minor symptoms in adults can have severe consequences for newborns.

Cold Sore Virus Can Be Dangerous for Newborn Babies

The World Health Organisation estimates that around two-thirds of people under the age of 50 carry HSV-1. In adults, the virus often causes cold sores or no noticeable symptoms, but newborn babies have immature immune systems that leave them particularly vulnerable to serious infections.

Neonatal herpes affects approximately six in every 100,000 babies in the UK and Ireland, according to research by the British Paediatric Surveillance Unit.

The study found that almost a quarter of infected babies died, with the proportion rising to around two-thirds among those who developed the disseminated form of the disease, in which the infection spreads throughout the body.

A review published last year by the National Child Mortality Database examined 35 infant deaths associated with HSV and called for parents to receive warnings about cold sores during pregnancy.

Parents Support Campaign to Prevent Infant Infections

Edmonds and Brookes are supporting Infection Prevention Week, an initiative by baby charity The Lullaby Trust aimed at raising awareness of ways to protect infants from infections.

A survey of 1,001 parents conducted by the charity found that 57 per cent had experienced a relative kissing their baby without asking permission. The research also found that 46 per cent felt uncomfortable asking loved ones to wash their hands before touching their child.

Edmonds said parents needed to feel comfortable establishing boundaries around contact with newborns.

“Newborns have immature immune systems. Setting boundaries when it comes to touching and kissing is a must. It could save your baby’s life,” she said.

Jenny Ward, chief executive of The Lullaby Trust, said parents should not feel guilty about taking precautions to protect their children.

“Protecting your baby from infection is never something you need to justify. You are not being rude or over-protective,” Ward said.

The charity’s campaign encourages parents and families to take steps to reduce the risk of infections during a baby’s early months.