What is a Cold Sores?
These are caused by herpes simplex virus and are usually present as small blisters over the lips and around mouth. These tend to clear up within 7 days without any treatment.
What Causes Cold Sores?
Herpes simplex virus or HSV-1 causes cold sores and in most of the cases this virus is passed in childhood most likely when a child is kissed by one of the family members with cold sores. The virus which passes through the skin travels to the nerves and becomes dormant until at a later phase in life it is triggered.
The triggers that commonly cause cold sores are infection like the respiratory tract infection, stress, fatigue, tiredness, strong sun, high fever and menstruation.
In rare case cold sores also occur because of HSV-2 virus. This happens when oral sex is performed with a person who has genital sores.
Symptoms of Cold Sores:
There are no symptoms initially, but those who experience symptoms have very severe ones.
In Children: Children younger than five years develop the symptoms of cold sores. These are nausea, headaches, sore throat and swollen lymph nodes, painful and swollen gums and high temperature.
In Adults: Though HSV-1 is rare in adults but some of the symptoms experienced are sore throat, bad breath from mouth, ulcers which might develop into yellow grey centres and sores that are painful usually present in and around mouth.
Complications:
In rare cases cold sores may end up leading to complications. The virus can spread to the other parts of the body and lead to conditions like:
- Herpetic keratoconjunctivitis – This is a condition characterised by the swelling and inflammation of the eye along with sores in the eyelids
- Herpetic whitlow – This is the presence of sores which are extremely painful and present around and on the fingers
- Skin Infections – This happens when the virus is in contact with the broken skin due to a cut or a condition like eczema
Tests and diagnosis:
Those who have had cold sores will recognise if it is a cold sore, though a visit to the GP is a must. Blood tests and samples of fluid can be advised to determine the presence of the cold sore virus.
Treatment of Cold Sores:
Usually cold sores clear up within 7-10 days without treatment and antiviral tablets and creams are used to give relief from the symptoms and for a faster healing. The treatment often includes:
- Antiviral creams such as Fenistil reduce the healing time when used as advised. These creams are readily available over the counter and are effective when applied when the first signs of cold sores are noticed. At this stage the virus usually replicates and duplicates and the use of creams at this time is very effective.
- Antiviral tablets are considered to be more effective than the creams and are prescribed in severe form of the disease.
- Cold sore patches present with the special gel known as hydrocolloid are very effective against skin wounds and are usually applied over cold sores while healing.
- Non antiviral treatment includes the use of painkillers such as ibuprofen to help ease the irritation and pain caused by the cold sores.
How to Prevent Cold Sores?
Though it is not possible to prevent the infection caused by the herpes simplex virus but the risk of developing the same can be reduced by:
- Avoiding touching the cold sores, should be done only when creams are applied. Also, the creams should not be rubbed in as it may damage the skin further. Creams should be dabbed softly.
- When the cream is applied on the cold sores it is a must that you wash hands before and after the application of the cream.
- Cold sore creams should not be shared with anyone
- Things like lipsticks and cutlery should not be shared
- Oral sex and kissing should be avoided until the cold sores have healed properly
- Avoid the triggers that flare up the cold sores