Cold Sore

Cold sores are a type of facial lesion that are found either on the lips or else on the skin. Some equivalent terms that are used to refer to cold sores are "fever blisters" and the medical term "recurrent herpes labialis”. These sores have become known as cold sores or fever blisters because the virus can be reactivated by a cold or fever.

Herpes is one of the most common viral infections in the world. HSV infection can cause small, painful sores that look like blisters on the skin or the tissue lining of the throat, nose, mouth, urethra, rectum, and vagina. A herpes infection may cause only a single outbreak of sores, but in many cases the person will have more outbreaks.

Cold sores are not a sign of a recently acquired herpes simplex infection but instead a reactivation of herpes virus particles already living in your body. Cold sores occur when latent herpes simplex virus particles, which have been lying dormant ("asleep"), become reactivated.

Two types of viruses are:

HSV-1 only infects those body tissues that lie "above the waistline" and it causes cold sores in the majority of cases. HSV1 virus that passes from person to person by direct contact with infected skin or secretions, including saliva or by sharing eating utensils (such as spoons or forks) where sores are present. It can cause similar, but smaller, blisters that rapidly become ulcers inside the mouth on the gums and palate (roof of the mouth). The sores usually appear as clusters of tiny blisters on the lip.

HSV-2 infects those body tissues that lie "below the waistline" and it causes sores in the genital area (genital herpes), such as on or around the vagina or penis. HSV-2 also causes the herpes infection seen in babies who are delivered vaginally in women who have genital herpes. HSV-2 is generally spread by sexual contact. HSV-2 can sometimes cause mouth sores. Herpes simplex virus type 2 is not usually the virus that causes cold sores, although it can.

In some cases, HSV can infect other parts of the body, such as the eyes and the brain.

About HSV-1:

The first time HSV-1 invades the skin, it causes a primary infection, which usually occurs in childhood or adolescence. It may cause a fever, sore mouth and sore throat. The primary infection often is similar to other viral or bacterial throat infections, and often is not diagnosed as an HSV-1 infection.

After the primary infection, the virus remains dormant (inactive) indefinitely in nerve roots near the affected skin area. In some people, the virus becomes active again from time to time and causes new active sores on the skin, usually on the lip. The virus can also be triggered to become active again by other factors, including stress, trauma to the lips and exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays, menstruation and suppression of the immune system.

The dormant virus particles come from a previous herpes infection. A person's initial herpes simplex virus infection, termed as "primary herpetic stomatitis".

HSV-1 can be transferred to the eyes, the skin of the fingers and the other areas. It can cause unusually severe illness in people debilitated by other health problems (malnutrition, cancer or weakened immune systems, including AIDS) or those receiving cancer chemotherapy, corticosteroids or drugs to prevent the rejection of organ transplants.

About HSV-2:

Most genital herpes infections are attributed to herpes simplex (HSV-2). Herpes simplex 2 or genital herpes is transmitted sexually. The genital area becomes sore, itchy, tender and just plain painful. Visual signs are blisters on the penis or on the vaginal area. These blisters soon turn into painful sores that can last up to 3 weeks. The best prevention for herpes simplex type 2 is to wear a latex condom if you are the male or insist your partner wears one if you are the female. Also, avoid kissing.

Oral herpes can be painful and embarrassing but it is not a serious infection. There is no cure for oral herpes but outbreaks usually occur less frequently after age 35. Alternative medicines can reduce the pain, prevent outbreaks, and shorten the course of cold sores. The spread of herpes virus to the eyes is very serious. Herpes virus can infect the cells in the cornea and cause scarring which may impair vision.

HSV-1 infections are very common in the United States, and most of us are infected by the time we reach adulthood. Even if we do not remember having a primary HSV-1 infection during childhood, the fact that we occasionally have a cold sore or fever blister indicates that HSV-1 is present.

Once the virus HSV enters in our body, it never leaves. Cold sores are most often caused by HSV-1.

Most of us get infected with cold sores when we are children.