Cold sores

Cold sores, also called fever blisters, are a painful infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV 1).  Cold sores most often occur on the lips, nose, and the surrounding areas.  However, the cold sore virus can also be transmitted to the genitals through oral sex. 

Cold sores are highly contagious when a flare up is present, and can be contagious even when a cold sore is not visible.  Children often become infected with the cold sore virus by contact with parents, siblings or other close relatives who have cold sores. 

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Therefore, learning about cold sores is very important, whether or not you have been diagnosed with the cold sore virus. On this page you will find information regarding cold sores. 

Initially, a cold sore may appear as an irritated area.  This can be accompanied by burning, itching, or tingling in the region where the cold sore will eventually appear. The appearance of a cold sore, or cluster of very small fluid filled blisters, is usually what occurs next during a cold sore flare up when untreated.

Ninety percent of all people will have at least one cold sore in their lives.  Some children who are affected with cold sores may become seriously ill. However, after the first infection, many people develop antibodies and never have another cold sore. About 40% of American adults, however, have repeated cold sores.

Cold sores are usually transmitted by such forms of contact as kissing an infected person or sharing eating utensils, towels, or razors.

Cold sores are highly contagious when a flare up is present,  and can be transmitted even when there is no visible signs of a cold sore, this is called viral shedding. Children often become infected with the cold sore virus by contact with parents, siblings or other close relatives who have cold sores. 

A child can spread the cold sore virus by rubbing his or her cold sore and then touching other children.

Most people infected with the cold sore virus became infected before they were 10 years old.

The cold sore virus is highly contagious. Anyone experiencing symptoms of a cold sore must be very cautious when being intimate with another person. Those who have symptoms of a cold sore, either on their face or in the genitals, should refrain from contact with another person to help avoid transmission of cold sores.  If the cold sore  virus has been transmitted, the infection is permanent.

Cold sores can be either a one time event or reoccur.  Possible causes of a cold sore reactivating may include stress, fever, menstruation, cold, fatigue and sunlight. Recurrent cold sores usually occur as lesions in or around the mouth. 

One time cold sore infections affect children or young adults, and are usually more severe than those cold sore outbreaks that reoccur.  These one time cold sore outbreaks are usually  preceded by fever, up to 105 degrees, sore throat and headache, and followed by red, swollen gums that bleed easily from the cold sore.

If one has an active cold sore outbreak, whether it is the first episode of a cold sore or a repeat outbreak, there are some simple guidelines to follow. The following is important to follow to help avoid spreading the cold sore virus to other areas of your body or to other people:  

• Avoid touching the cold sore.
• Keep area infected by the cold sore clean and dry to prevent other infections from developing.
• If you do touch a cold sore, wash your hands after contact with the cold sore.
• Avoid contact from the time you first feel any symptoms of a cold sore until the cold sore has completely healed, that is, the scab has fallen off and new skin has formed where the cold sore occurred.  

A blood test cannot show whether a person can infect another person with the cold sore or herpes virus. A blood test, however, can show if a person has been infected at any time with the cold sore virus, or herpes simplex.  There are also newer blood tests that can tell whether a person has been infected with Herpes simplex 1 or herpes simplex 2.

The difference between a canker sore and a cold sore

A Canker sore is often confused with a cold sore.  One of the main differences between a cold sore and canker sore is that a cold sore usually occurs outside the mouth, where a canker sore occurs inside the mouth.  

A canker sore is a small ulcer with a white or gray base and red border. There can be one or a number of canker sores in the mouth. Canker sores are very common and often recur.

A cold sore, also called fever blister, or herpes simplex, is caused by the herpes simplex virus. A cold sore is composed of groups of painful, fluid-filled blisters that often erupt around the lips and sometime under the nose or under the chin. Herpes simplex 1 is the usual cause of a cold sore, although herpes simplex 2 can also cause a cold sore.  

Canker sores usually heal in about a week or two. A cold sore usually heals in about 1-2 weeks as well.  Antiviral topical products have been shown to help reduce and treat cold sores caused by herpes simplex infections.  

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Cold sores