Cold Sores During Pregnancy
Infections
Obie Editorial Team
Cold sores, sometimes called fever blisters, are groups of small blisters on the lip and around the mouth. The skin around the blisters is often red, swollen, and sore. The blisters may break open, leak a clear fluid, and then scab over after a few days. They usually heal after several days to 2 weeks.
Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two types of herpes simplex virus: HSV-1 and HSV-2. Both virus types can cause lip and mouth sores and genital herpes. The herpes simplex virus usually enters the body through a break in the skin around or inside the mouth. It is usually spread when a person touches a cold sore or touches infected fluid-such as from sharing eating utensils or razors, kissing an infected person, or touching that person's saliva. Cold sores can also be spread to other areas of the body.
The first symptoms may include pain around your mouth and on your lips, a fever, a sore throat, or swollen glands in your neck or other parts of the body. After the blisters appear, the cold sores usually break open, leak a clear fluid, and then crust over and disappear after several days to 2 weeks. For some people, cold sores can be very painful. Some people have the virus but don't get cold sores and have no symptoms.
Your doctor can tell if you have cold sores by asking you questions to find out whether you have come into contact with the virus and by examining you. You probably won't need any other tests other than a medical exam.
Cold sores will usually start to heal on their own within a few days. However, if they cause pain or make you feel embarrassed, they can be treated with skin creams, ointments, or sometimes pills. Treatment may get rid of the cold sores only 1 to 2 days faster, and can also help ease the pain.
Most people have been infected with this virus by the time they reach adulthood. Although most people have been exposed to HSV, only about 20% to 40% develop recurring cold sores.
The herpes simplex virus that causes cold sores cannot be cured. After you get infected, the virus stays in your body for the rest of your life. If you get cold sores often, treatment can reduce the number of cold sores you get and their severity.
If you have a weakened immune system and develop cold sores, you may need higher doses of these medicines to control your symptoms or daily doses to prevent outbreaks. For treatment of recurrent cold sores, the following medicines may reduce the severity and duration of the outbreak:
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