Herpes Doctor

Yes, you should see a doctor for diagnosis even though you can
get treatment for Oral Herpes without a prescription. The doctor
will examine you and tell you what your symptoms mean. If you do
have Herpes Simplex 1 you will be given
advice on how to treat it and how
to avoid spreading the virus.

Common Symptoms of Oral Herpes - Cold Sores

The symptoms of Oral Herpes start with an irritation or tingling
around the mouth area. A rash will appear which will then turn into
blisters and then into a dry scab. These symptoms are
visible for about a week and usually leave no scarring.

It is quite easy to catch Herpes Simplex 1, the virus that causes the common cold sore. It is
mostly contagious when there is an outbreak but also just before
the outbreak (when it itches) and in the viral shedding period
when the virus reproduces itself.
If you've caught
the virus, it can be years before you have an outbreak but you will still
have viral shedding periods. The outbreaks may occur once in a lifetime
or up to several times a month.
There are no symptoms in the viral shedding period.

Treatment and Prevention of Oral Herpes - Cold Sores

You cannot cure Herpes Simplex. The virus stay in your body for life.
You can however treat the symptoms of Oral Herpes with considerable
success. You use an antiviral agent, either:

• Acyclovir
• Penciclovir

The two most popular brands are:

• Zovirax
• Vectavir

The antiviral agent is contained in a cream that you can buy over the counter
from pharmacies. When you use the cream you should try to use it as
soon as you feel any irritation around the mouth prior to an outbreak
because that will have the best effect. Be careful when you use the
cream:

• Do not use your fingers to apply the cream, use a cotton
  bud
• Wash your hands first
• Avoid touching the tip of the cotton bud
• Do not dip the cotton bud more than once in the cream,
  use several if needed

This may seem a little exaggerated but you avoid cross contamination
which may slow down or even eliminate the effects of the cream. The
cream will reduce the frequency, duration and severity of outbreaks
as well as reduce the risk of spreading.

Oral Herpes is also known as cold sores. Although it has nothing
to do with having a cold, Oral Herpes does have certain similarities
to a cold:

• It is caused by a virus
• It is very common
• It comes back again and again
• It is easy to catch
• It is fairly harmless

It is estimated that 50-80 % of the world's population have the
Herpes Simplex virus and many don't even know it.

Care and Prevention Considerations for Oral Herpes

If you have Oral Herpes, you must take precautions to avoid
spreading it:

• Use an antiviral treatment
• Avoid kissing and oral sex (may cause Genital Herpes
  in your partner)
• Do not touch the affected area
• Wash your hands regularly

Viruses thrives on a low immune defense system. You can keep your
immune system boosted by:

• Maintaining a healthy diet
• Making sure you get enough sleep
• Keeping yourself fit with a daily exercise routine
• Avoiding stressful situations whenever possible

Conclusion

If you suspect you have Oral Herpes, SEE YOUR DOCTOR
first. Then take care to read as much as you can about the condition and how
to minimize outbreaks and avoid spreading it. You'll find all of that
information here at Herpes Doctor.

Related Links

• The Herpes treatment page
• Cold sore symptoms
• Preventing cold sore outbreaks