Cold Sores

Clinic

• Also known as a fever blister and herpes labialis / Herpetic eruption
• It is a type of infection by the herpes simplex virus that affects primarily the lip.
• Symptoms typically include a burning pain followed by small blisters or sores. The first attack may also be accompanied by fever, sore throat, and enlarged lymph nodes.
• The rash usually heals within ten days, but the virus remains dormant in the trigeminal ganglion. The virus may periodically reactivate to create another outbreak of sores in the mouth or lip.
• The cause is usually HSV-1 and occasionally HSV-2. The infection is typically spread between people by direct non-sexual contact.
• Attacks can be triggered by sunlight, fever, psychological stress, or a menstrual period.
• Direct contact with the genitals can result in genital herpes
• About 2.5 per 1000 people are affected with outbreaks in any given year.
• After one episode about 33% of people develop subsequent episodes.