Oral
Herpes is the outbreak of the virus
Herpes Simplex 1 which
is contagious from the affected area, in this case around the
mouth. The best way to avoid giving cold sores to someone else is by not getting into physical contact via your mouth. This article explains the various steps you can take to avoid putting others at risk of Oral Herpes.

It is obviously easier said than done, it would mean not
kissing anyone ever again as the Herpes Simplex virus
doesn't leave your body once you've caught it.
Unfortunately the virus is not only contagious when there
is a visible outbreak, it is also contagious just before
the outbreak and in the viral shedding period.

Luckily, Herpes Simplex is a fairly harmless virus. All it means for most people is an outbreak of cold sores every now and again and the rest of the
time it is latent.

Precaution - Prevention & Treatment

It is difficult to avoid spreading the virus but there are certain things
you can do to keep risk to a minimum:

• Avoid physical contact from the mouth area
• Do not touch the affected area
• Wash your hands regularly
• Do not share drinks, food or towels
• Use antiviral treatment

The antiviral treatment comes in a cream, Zovirax and Vectavir being the most popular brands.
Apart from reducing the risk of spreading the virus, it will
also reduce the duration, frequency and severity of outbreaks.
Antiviral treatment cannot cure the Herpes Simplex virus (no Herpes viruses are
curable) but will help treat symptoms and manage outbreak frequency.

Symptoms & Triggers

An Oral Herpes outbreak starts as a rash around the affected
area. This rash turns into blisters which then turn into a dry scab.
The symptoms are visible for about a week, you may feel an
irritation or tingling prior to the outbreak and it will come
back again with a more or less recognizable pattern.

Viruses thrives on a low immune defense system. You are more
likely to experience an outbreak if you are:

• Stressed
• Tired
• Suffering some other illness

Certain measures can be taken to ensure the least possible opportunity for
outbreaks. In general, they are associated with a healthy
lifestyle. Considerations to bear in mind would be:

• Sleep: Make sure you are getting enough.
• Exercise: Regular exercise has many benefits, not least of which is
  helping to alleviate stress and ensure good sleep patterns
• Health Eating: Follow a healthy eating plan in conjunction with
  regular exercise
• Avoid stressful situations wherever possible

Remember, Herpes is very common and fairly harmless.
You should not have any complications other than the social-psychological strain
that the visible symptoms may bring.

Related Links

• The Herpes treatment page
• Cold sore symptoms
• How to prevent outbreaks of cold sores
• Should you see a doctor for cold sores?

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