What is cold sore?
Cold sores — also called fever blisters — are a common viral infection. They are tiny, fluid-filled blisters on and around your lips.
After the blisters break, a scab forms that can last several days. Cold sores usually heal in two to three weeks without leaving a scar.
Cold sores spread from person to person by close contact, such as kissing. They're usually caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), and less commonly herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). Both of these viruses can affect your mouth or genitals.
Cold sores are contagious even if you don't see the sores.
There's no cure for cold sores, but treatment can help manage outbreaks. Prescription antiviral pills or creams can help sores heal more quickly.
Symptoms
A cold sore usually passes through several stages:
- Tingling and itching. Many people feel itching, burning or tingling around the lips for a day or so before a small, hard, painful spot appears and blisters erupt.
- Blisters. Small fluid-filled blisters typically erupt along the border of your lips. Sometimes they appear around the nose or cheeks or inside the mouth.
- Oozing and crusting. The small blisters may merge and then burst, leaving shallow open sores that ooze and crust over.
Signs and symptoms vary, depending on whether this is your first outbreak or a recurrence.
In a first-time outbreak, you also might experience:
- Fever
- Painful gums
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Swollen lymph nodes
Children under 5 years old may have cold sores inside their mouths and the lesions are commonly mistaken for canker sores.
When to see a doctor
Cold sores generally clear up without treatment. See your doctor if:
- You have a weakened immune system
- The cold sores don't heal within two weeks
- Symptoms are severe
- You have frequent recurrences of cold sores
- You experience irritation in your eyes
Cold sore is most contagious infection.
The virus is spread by close contact, as well as by the use of personal hygiene items (common utensils, towels and shaving products) of the infected person.
Recurrence may be triggered by viral infection or fever, hormonal changes, stress, fatigue, exposure to sunlight and wind, changes in the immune system, injury to the skin.
Source:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cold-sore/symptoms-causes/syc-20371017
