Cold sores are common infections caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1). It is characterized by an initial itching and tingling sensation, followed by blister appearances on the mouth and/or lips that will eventually pop and crust after a few days. These blisters may also form on the nose or cheeks.
Cold sores are highly contagious. This is why proper handwashing and avoiding touching the affected area is important to halt the virus's spread, causing it.
The condition often doesn't require treatment as it clears up on its own 7-10 days after symptoms appear. However, many doctors prescribe antiviral creams to help stop symptoms from getting worse.
You may want to visit your doctor if you are:
Here is the progression of symptoms that will appear in a person with a cold sore:
Itching and Tingling Sensation
You will feel itching and tingling on the lips, mouth, cheek, or nose (depending on the infected area) at most two days before seeing a hard spot.
Development of Hard Spots
After a couple of days of getting the itchy and tingling sensations, you will notice a hard spot that feels painful when touched.
Blistering
The hard spots you have will now become fluid-filled blisters.
Bursting and Oozing
Blisters will then burst and ooze fluid out of them. They will now turn into an open sore. This is the most contagious stage of the disease, so avoid touching the oozing blisters or perform thorough handwashing before and after touching them.
Crusting
Your open sores will now start to crust, which is a sign that they are healing. You'll notice temporary red marks on your skin, which will eventually fade in the future.
Now, if you contract the HSV-1 virus for the first time, the abovementioned symptoms may be accompanied by the following general discomforts:
Simply manage these symptoms like you would an ordinary fever:
Recurrent Symptoms
You may get a repeat episode of cold sores once you've caught the disease before. The onset, length, and time it takes to reoccur from the last episode varies greatly from person to person. It could reoccur monthly, yearly, or once every few years.
Reoccurrence is characterized by the same symptoms as the initial cold sore infection. The hard spots and blisters may form over the same areas where they used to be before. The sores will heal after a couple of weeks and will not cause any scarring anymore. The accompanying symptoms like fever, headache, and sore throat aren't typically present during a reoccurrence.
Triggers
Certain triggering factors may predispose you to get cold sores. These are the following:
Treatment for cold sores usually involves an antiviral cream directly applied to the affected areas. More severe cases warrant oral antiviral medications such as acyclovir. Patients usually respond well to these treatments, and their cold sores subside after around 10 days.
See a doctor if you still have symptoms beyond 10 days, if your sores become severely infected, or if the sores spread to areas other than your mouth, lips, nose, and cheeks.
You may consult a Mobidoctor physician online via video calls to show your symptoms and ask for advice. Our doctors can diagnose your cold sores right away and send the prescriptions for antiviral medications to your nearest pharmacy. They can also provide valuable advice on how to manage and prevent a reoccurrence of the illness.
Our Mobidoctor physicians are available 7 days a week for online video consultations, so book an appointment anytime and rest assured of professional medical service anytime, anywhere.
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