Symptoms of Cold Sore
July 7, 2009
Fever Blister or Cold sores are a type of skin infection and they appear as small blisters around the mouth and on the lips. The skin becomes swollen, red in color and sore. It takes almost two weeks for the cold sore to heal completely.
Sometimes, blisters break and discharge liquid. HSV or Herpes Simplex Virus is the causative agent of the cold sore. HSV-1 and HSV-2, both the types of herpes virus can cause the viral infection on lips and mouth. They are also known to cause genital herpes. The virus is known to invade the skin by entering via open pore or a break in skin near the mouth or inside mouth.
It spreads via the touching of the infected area specifically, by using the infected person’s shaving razor, unclean utensils, kissing or saliva touching. If the herpes viral infection increases, it can spread to other parts of the body as well.
Common symptoms of cold sore include pain on the lips and around the mouth, sore throat, swollen neck glands and fever. Children are known to drool before showing the clear symptoms of the cold sore. Once the blisters form, soon they break open and discharge transparent fluid which further spreads the infection.
The blister than develops a thin crust over itself and after a week, starts vanishing. Cold sore is usually known to cause great pain to people. Some people may develop cold sore without any symptoms.
Usually, tests are not required to confirm a group of blisters positioned near mouth as cold sore. You can easily detect them yourself is you are aware about them. Treatment of the cold sore includes skin ointments, creams, and oral medication. Herpes virus cannot be killed with any medication; it stays in the body in the dormant phase. However, if you are getting cold sore frequently, doctor can prescribe you medication to neutralize the virus.
Precautions can be followed to avoid cold sore. Avoid contact with already infected person. Moreover, if you are already infected with the virus, avoid spreading it to others and take care of hygiene to prevent it to augment further.
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