COLD SORE CAUSES |
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While anyone can be infected by herpes
virus, not everyone will show symptoms. The first symptoms of herpes
occur within 2-20 days after contact with an infected person.
Symptoms of the primary infection are usually more severe than those
of recurrent infections. The primary infection can cause symptoms
like other viral infections including tiredness, headache, fever,
and swollen lymph nodes in the neck.
Typically, 50-80% of persons with oral herpes experience a prodrome
(symptoms of oncoming disease) of pain, burning, itching, or
tingling at the site where blisters will form. This prodrome stage
may last anywhere from a few hours, to one to two days. The herpes
infection prodrome occurs in both the primary infection and
recurrent infections.
In 95% of the patients with cold sores, the blisters occur at the
outer edge of the lips which is called the "vermilion border." Less
often, blisters form on the nose, chin, or cheek. Following the
prodrome, the disease process is rapid. First, small red bumps
appear which quickly form fluid-filled blisters. The painful
blisters may either burst and form a scab or dry up and form a scab.
Within two days of the first red bumps, all the blisters have formed
scabs. The skin heals completely and without scarring within six to
ten days.
Some children have a very serious primary (first episode) herpes
infection called "gingivostomatitis." This causes fever, swollen
lymph glands, and numerous blisters inside the mouth, and on the
lips, and tongue which may form large, open sores. These painful
sores may last up to three weeks and can make eating and drinking
difficult. Because of this, young children with gingivostomatitis
are at risk for dehydration (excessive loss of water from the body).
Most people experience fewer than two recurrent outbreaks of cold
sores each year. Some people never experience outbreaks while some
have very frequent outbreaks. In most people, the blisters form in
the same area each time and are triggered by the same factors (such
as stress, sun exposure, etc) |
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| COLD SORE RELATED ITEMS |
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