Oral Herpes: What are the Symptoms of Cold Sores?
The symptoms of Oral Herpes are a rash around the mouth area. This rash
will turn into blisters and these will then become a dry scab. The
symptoms usually last less than a week. The common name for Oral Herpes is
cold sores.
Oral Herpes is caused by the virus
Herpes Simplex 1 and in some cases
Herpes Simplex 2 which usually causes Genital Herpes.
Despite the name, cold sores have nothing to do with the common cold. There
are certain similarities between the two however, they are both:
- A virus
- Easy to catch
- Come back again and again
- Are extremely common
Herpes Simplex stays in your body for life. The outbreak will come back
with intervals of months or years depending on the individual. You might
feel the rash come on, there might be a tingling or irritation around the
affected area and this is the best time to treat the symptoms.
Treating Cold Sores
You can't cure Herpes but you can treat it and keep the outbreaks to
a minimum with good effect. You use a cream containing Acyclovir or Penciclovir. They
are available over the counter in pharmacies under the brand names
Zovirax and Vectavir.
You should see a doctor to get a diagnosis and advice on treatment if you
suspect you have Oral Herpes. It is best to see the doctor when you have
the outbreak as it aids diagnosis. The doctor may diagnose you purely
from seeing your symptoms but he may also want to take a swab or a
blood test.
Minimizing Cold Sore Outbreaks
General precautions include:
- Do not touch the infected area when you have an outbreak
- Wash your hands regularly
- Hold your hand over your mouth when you sneeze
- Do not share drinks, food or towels
- No kissing or oral sex
These are actually just basic hygiene considerations but will make a big
difference for you and others.
Avoid Potential Triggers
Herpes loves a low immune defense system. You are more likely to have an outbreak if you are:
- Tired
- Stressed
- Suffering from another illness
Being healthy will have an impact on the amount of outbreaks you have.
Get your sleep, eat healthy and try to avoid stressful situations.
Related Links
- The Herpes treatment page
- Preventing cold sore outbreaks
- Minimizing the risk of passing on Oral Herpes
- Should you see a Doctor for cold sores?
Still Need Help?
Why not ask your question in our Public Q&A Forum? We'd be glad to hear from you and will try to help as best we can ;-)
- Herpes Viruses:
help? please?
About 2 weeks ago i engaged in sexual activity with a boy who i later found out has had several sexual partners. I've gotten 2 cold sores on the corners of my lips but i am a huge hypocondriac and everytime i see a pimpled or anything i just automatically assume it's herpes. I have what looks like lesions on the back of my tongue. They're in the way back of my mouth by my tonsuls and i don't know if they're supposed to be there or if it could be something else. I'm just really scared and don't know what to do. I keep thinking that blisters are appearing on my lips and i'm just so paranoid
i had a small cluster of bump
i had a small cluster of bumps on my lip a while back. they didnt hurt, nor was there any preceding pain. i have only had one consistent sexual partner who doesnt have herpes. however, my two of my siblings have it, and i was wondering if it could be easily passed on through lip products or the like. i have also had oral contact with someone that i am unsure of whether they have oral herpes or not. i have never seen him with a cold sore. what kinds of tests can i have done/take that will tell me if i have oral herpes?
reply to both
person no1 you most lightly have herpes type 1. i wouldnt worry about it.
person no.2. testing is difficult, sometimes doesnt work, and is costly, over here its about $1000 for a western bolt test, you must get the juice in ur coldcore, at the right time, a doctor can take a sample, i think they fedex it somewhere and you get results in a few weeks after a culture, sounds pretty pointless, but if your as paraoid as me, you'd be considering it.
Herpes Simplex 1 or 2 WITHOUT pus, rash, blisters, scabs?
Hi,
For the first time in my life, I kissed on the first date. And I'm wondering if I will live to regret it. A few weeks after that date, I was stressed, and got a sore spot on my lip. In a matter of hours, it swelled a bit, got red, felt hot and a little hard (maybe like a deep pimple or small boil). Then the next day it went away.
Today I was stressed-out again. After supper, my lip felt hot again, and I check the mirror and the same spot is red and a little swollen. No pus, no rash, no blisters, and no scabs.
Can one have Herpes Simplex 1 or 2 WITHOUT pus, rash, blisters, scabs?
Thanks for the info,
KissedOnFirstDate
This rash
will turn into blisters and these will then become a dry scab. The
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