Cold Sores - What"s Cold About Them?
Introduction Cold sores are small and somewhat painful blisters that usually appear on or around a person's lips and are caused by the herpes simplex virus-1 (or HSV-1).
The sores - also known as "fever blisters" - are quite different from canker sores, a condition people sometimes associate them with.
They are very contagious and stay that way until the blisters scab over, and sometimes even afterwards.
Fever Blisters can appear one at a time or in little grape like bunches, and are sometimes filled with fluid.
They normally leave on their own within 7 to 10 days after their first appearance.
Herpes Herpes simplex virus type 1 ("HSV1") generally only infects those body tissues that lie "above the waistline" and it is the virus that causes cold sores in the majority of cases.
Herpes simplex is not curable, but may lie dormant for long periods of time.
Signs and symptoms may not begin until as long as 20 days after exposure, and usually last seven to 10 days.
The real cause of the sores is the virus creating new virus on the edge of your lip and/or nose.
Home remedies are probably your best course of action against the painful and unsightly sores.
On occasions, if the cold sores are making a child sick, a doctor may prescribe a special medicine that fights the virus.
The Majority of people become infected with the herpes simplex virus during their preschool years, most likely from eating or drinking after someone who has it or getting kissed by an adult with the virus, but not everyone who gets the virus develops sores.
Symptoms Symptoms are usually most severe 8 hours after an outbreak and may include: tingling of the lips, small blisters on the lips and mouth that enlarge, burst, then crust, over itching and irritation of the lips and mouth, soreness of the lips and mouth.
Symptoms can be very painful and cause a great deal of embarrassment.
Initially the infection may cause no symptoms or mouth ulcers.
The first signs of a fever blister usually appear within 1 or 2 weeks -- and as late as 3 weeks -- after contact with an infected person.
Untreated, the symptoms will generally subside in 1 to 2 weeks.
Antiviral medications given by mouth may shorten the course of the symptoms and decrease the pain.
Treatment Cold sore treatments are of a great interest for all of us who suffer those painful and irritating fever blisters.
For most kids, the sores go away on their own without any special treatment from a doctor.
While they cannot be cured, if symptoms are severe, treatment may help alleviate some of the pain and discomfort.
Most treatment options are focused on reducing the discomfort and pain and reducing the length of the outbreak.
Some options may even help prevent the blisters from forming.
For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, see your doctor.
A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.
Conclusion Cold sores, also referred to as "fever blisters," are painful, unsightly mouth sores that are caused by an outbreak of the herpes simplex virus and are not a sign of a recently acquired herpes simplex infection, but instead a re-activation of herpes virus particles already living in your body.
They are usually found either: On or at the edge of a your lip and some times indicate a deficiency in Calcium.
Cold sores AKA fever blisters are very common and also very contagious.
If they aren't taken care of properly, they can cause bacterial skin infections.
If you have them, it's important to see your doctor IF: you have another health condition that has weakened your immune system, the sores don't heal by themselves within 7 to 10 days, you get cold sores frequently.
The sores - also known as "fever blisters" - are quite different from canker sores, a condition people sometimes associate them with.
They are very contagious and stay that way until the blisters scab over, and sometimes even afterwards.
Fever Blisters can appear one at a time or in little grape like bunches, and are sometimes filled with fluid.
They normally leave on their own within 7 to 10 days after their first appearance.
Herpes Herpes simplex virus type 1 ("HSV1") generally only infects those body tissues that lie "above the waistline" and it is the virus that causes cold sores in the majority of cases.
Herpes simplex is not curable, but may lie dormant for long periods of time.
Signs and symptoms may not begin until as long as 20 days after exposure, and usually last seven to 10 days.
The real cause of the sores is the virus creating new virus on the edge of your lip and/or nose.
Home remedies are probably your best course of action against the painful and unsightly sores.
On occasions, if the cold sores are making a child sick, a doctor may prescribe a special medicine that fights the virus.
The Majority of people become infected with the herpes simplex virus during their preschool years, most likely from eating or drinking after someone who has it or getting kissed by an adult with the virus, but not everyone who gets the virus develops sores.
Symptoms Symptoms are usually most severe 8 hours after an outbreak and may include: tingling of the lips, small blisters on the lips and mouth that enlarge, burst, then crust, over itching and irritation of the lips and mouth, soreness of the lips and mouth.
Symptoms can be very painful and cause a great deal of embarrassment.
Initially the infection may cause no symptoms or mouth ulcers.
The first signs of a fever blister usually appear within 1 or 2 weeks -- and as late as 3 weeks -- after contact with an infected person.
Untreated, the symptoms will generally subside in 1 to 2 weeks.
Antiviral medications given by mouth may shorten the course of the symptoms and decrease the pain.
Treatment Cold sore treatments are of a great interest for all of us who suffer those painful and irritating fever blisters.
For most kids, the sores go away on their own without any special treatment from a doctor.
While they cannot be cured, if symptoms are severe, treatment may help alleviate some of the pain and discomfort.
Most treatment options are focused on reducing the discomfort and pain and reducing the length of the outbreak.
Some options may even help prevent the blisters from forming.
For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, see your doctor.
A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.
Conclusion Cold sores, also referred to as "fever blisters," are painful, unsightly mouth sores that are caused by an outbreak of the herpes simplex virus and are not a sign of a recently acquired herpes simplex infection, but instead a re-activation of herpes virus particles already living in your body.
They are usually found either: On or at the edge of a your lip and some times indicate a deficiency in Calcium.
Cold sores AKA fever blisters are very common and also very contagious.
If they aren't taken care of properly, they can cause bacterial skin infections.
If you have them, it's important to see your doctor IF: you have another health condition that has weakened your immune system, the sores don't heal by themselves within 7 to 10 days, you get cold sores frequently.
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