Cold Sores

Also known as “fever blisters” are blisters that form around the lips & sometimes inside the mouth. They are caused by viral infection called "herpes simplex virus."  The symptoms vary depending on whether it is the first time a person is getting cold sores. The first attack usually happens during childhood, during which the symptoms can include:

• Painful blisters on the lips, mouth, nose, or throat, which eventually pop & form scabs


• Mouth & throat pain


• Swelling in the neck


• Fever, body aches, & feeling ill

After the first time, pain & blisters can come back, but the other symptoms do not usually happen again & are usually are milder & shorter.

When symptoms first occur, they last ~12 days. Later, if they come back, they can last 8 days or less. Some people can tell when their cold sores are going to come back, feeling pain, burning, tingling, or itching on their lips ~ one day before blisters form. People often confuse cold sores with canker sores (“aphthous ulcers”). But these are painful red or white sores, & do not usually form blisters or scab over. Canker sores can form in your mouth & on your tongue, & are not contagious.

How do you get cold sores? The virus that causes cold sores spreads easily from person to person. You might have caught it from an infected person if you shared a utensil or drink, kissed, or had some other type of close contact. If you have a cold sore & touch it, you can spread the virus to other people or places on your body, like your eyes, inside your nose, or cuts on your skin.

How are they treated? Most people need treatment the first time they have cold sores, but people who have had cold sores before or who have mild symptoms often do not need treatment. For those who do need treatment, it can come in 2 forms:

• Some treatments called "antiviral medicines" help the body fight the herpes virus. They reduce symptoms & shorten the amount of time symptoms last. These medicines work best if they are started as soon as possible after symptoms begin. Many people do not need these medicines.



• Some treatments help the pain & discomfort of cold sores without affecting the virus. These include over-the-counter pain-relievers & medicines (like Abreva) that can be put directly on the sores.