Isn’t it strange that a cold sore has nothing to do with a cold, nor a fever as these cold sores are often called fever
blisters? The first outbreak is confusing as you feel a tingle that is accompanied with a burning and itchy sensation
and just when you feel it will subside, you find a blister or cluster of small blisters at the corner or edge of your lips
which are painful and reddish purple in color at first.
What is a cold sore - Cold sores are tiny and painful blisters filled with fluid. Triggered by a virus, they
generally appear around the lips, nose or mouth. It is also known as fever blisters.
Greek scholars, including Hippocrates, initiated the use of the word "herpes" to describe these lesions caused by
the virus we now call herpes simplex. As translated, "herpes" means to creep or crawl, which to the
Greeks described the manner in which these lesions spread.
Oral herpes is one of the commonest infections of the mouth and almost 60% of the Americans have had a cold
sore at some stage in their life and almost 25% of the ones infected experience recurrences. Same is true about
other countries too.
Cause - Cold sores are caused by a virus that is highly infectious and is called the
herpes simplex virus
(HSV). There are two types of HSV, categorized as Type I and Type II; the
Type I virus causes cold
sores.
Symptoms and Spread - Some patients experience certain typical symptoms, for instance a tingling or
burning sensation, before the appearance of sores.
Remember that a cold sore can spread by
touch, kissing, by oral sex, by sharing towels, razors, lipsticks and
even utensils.
At what stage is the cold sore most infective - When the sores are like blisters or when they burst they are
most infectious.
The cold sore virus lies dormant in the body, and has a tendency to recur.
Dangers – If you have cold core –
you need to protect both yourself and others. Be careful not to
pick it or scratch it. Every time you touch it wash your hands. Be especially careful not to touch your eyes. If it
infects your eyes it can cause a chronic corneal ulcer and haziness of vision and it is difficult to eradicate herpes
infection of the eyes.
Health news 
Subscribe
Follow us on Twitter
Post Comments
View All Comments
