Cold sores are small-sized blisters that develop around the mouth or on the lips. In most cases, they are caused by the herpes simplex virus and eventually clear up without any form of treatment within a span of 7-10 days.
An individual might have no observable symptoms upon initially infected with the herpes simplex virus. An outbreak of cold sores usually occurs sometime after. The sores often start with itching, tingling or burning sensation around the mouth. This is followed by sores filled with fluid that manifest mostly on the perimeters of the lower lip.
What is the herpes simplex virus?
The herpes simplex virus is contagious and readily passed on to others via close direct contact. Once an individual acquires the virus, it stays dormant. On the other hand, the virus might be activated every so often by a variety of triggers which results to the eruption of cold sores.
These possible triggers differ from one individual to another but include injury to the affected area, fatigue and menstruation period in women. Some individuals have recurrent cold sores while others have a single sore. Some do not develop any since the virus is not activated.
Treatment
Cold sores eventually subside without requiring treatment within 7-10 days. Nevertheless, antiviral creams are available over-the-counter in drugstores. If properly used, these can help ease the symptoms and even hasten the healing.
These treatments must be applied as soon as the initial signs of cold sore are evident. The application of an antiviral cream after this period is not likely to provide any effect. There are also patches for cold sores available that have hydrocolloid gel that is effective for wounds. When using a patch, it is applied over the sore as it heals.
Possible complications
In most cases, cold sores are mild. On the other hand, there are cases in which they can cause complications especially severe ones. Take note that dehydration can oftentimes occur if drinking fluids causes pain or discomfort. Young children face the highest risk for being dehydrated.
The herpes simplex virus is also capable of spreading to other parts of the body that can lead to a secondary infection. This can oftentimes cause painful sores called whitlows to develop on the fingers.
How to prevent infection
It is not possible to completely prevent infection from herpes simplex virus or to prevent the outbreak of cold sores. They are highly contagious once they burst up until they are fully healed.
With this in mind, the individual with cold sores must avoid close contact with others until they are fully healed and vanished. If there are still unhealed cold sores, it is vital to avoid close contact with those who have weakened immune systems since they are at high risk for infections as well as newborn infants, individuals with HIV and those under chemotherapy.