Cold Sores/ Fever Blisters / Recurrent Herpes Labialis

Isn’t it strange that a cold sore has nothing to do with a cold, nor a fever as these cold sores are often called fever blisters? The first outbreak is confusing as you feel a tingle that is accompanied with a burning and itchy sensation and just when you feel it will subside, you find a blister or cluster of small blisters at the corner or edge of your lips which are painful and reddish purple in color at first.

What is a cold sore - Cold sores are tiny and painful blisters filled with fluid. Triggered by a virus, they generally appear around the lips, nose or mouth. It is also known as fever blisters.

Greek scholars, including Hippocrates, initiated the use of the word "herpes" to describe these lesions caused by the virus we now call herpes simplex. As translated, "herpes" means to creep or crawl, which to the Greeks described the manner in which these lesions spread.

Oral herpes is one of the commonest infections of the mouth and almost 60% of the Americans have had a cold sore at some stage in their life and almost 25% of the ones infected experience recurrences. Same is true about other countries too.

Cause - Cold sores are caused by a virus that is highly infectious and is called the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two types of HSV, categorized as Type I and Type II; the Type I virus causes cold sores.

Symptoms and Spread - Some patients experience certain typical symptoms, for instance a tingling or burning sensation, before the appearance of sores.

Remember that a cold sore can spread by touch, kissing, by oral sex, by sharing towels, razors, lipsticks and even utensils.

At what stage is the cold sore most infective - When the sores are like blisters or when they burst they are most infectious.

The cold sore virus lies dormant in the body, and has a tendency to recur.

Dangers – If you have cold core – you need to protect both yourself and others. Be careful not to pick it or scratch it. Every time you touch it wash your hands. Be especially careful not to touch your eyes. If it infects your eyes it can cause a chronic corneal ulcer and haziness of vision and it is difficult to eradicate herpes infection of the eyes.