Cold Sore Symptoms

Cold sores, also known as fever blisters, are perhaps, one of the most bothersome and dejecting medical condition among the people who are affected by this condition. The Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 (HSV 1) is responsible for causing this infection. The main bothersome with cold sores is that these blisters hit the conspicuous parts of the body - typically, the lips and the edge of the mouth. Occasionally, the blisters occur on the nostrils, chin or fingers and very rarely, on the gums and roof of the mouth. When a person is hit by the HSV infection, the virus tends to stay dormant for many years in the nerve cells. However, this dormancy is disturbed due to certain triggers and the final outcome is the outbursts of blisters.

What Triggers Cold Sore Outbreaks?

Factors which I was talking about to be responsible for triggering the outbreaks of fever blisters include stress, fatigue, ailments such as cold and flu, allergies to foods and injury to the lips or gums. In some cases, even dental treatment or cosmetic surgeries, may cause the virus to awake from its dormant stage and manifest itself in the form of the outbreaks. People who let their lips be exposed too much to the sun, are the common ones to be hit by cold sores. Compromised immune system, hormonal changes due to menstruation and pregnancy may even come into picture of causing the blisters. All these factors may be loosely regarded as cold sore causes, but specifically they trigger the cause of the condition, which is the HSV1.

Characteristic Symptoms of Cold Sores

The symptoms aren't so many in number but they sure are noticeable. Typically, it takes about a mere one week for the outbreak of cold sores. However, for some people, the signs and symptoms may not show up for as long as 20 days post the exposure to the virus. And as mentioned, for some, there may be no outbreaks for several years.

You may suspect the onset of fever blisters if you experience a pain or tingling feeling on your lips. And if you do so, then post 1 or 2 days, you may expect the formation of the blisters. This tingling sensation and pain would be felt is the affected person has been hit by cold sores before and not for the first time. The blisters would be small, filled with fluid and occur in the form of raised, red area on the skin. The blisters typically break open and weep clear fluid. After a few days, they crust over and disappear. Accompanying these common cold sore symptoms, there could be others as well. A sore mouth could be a possible symptom of a cold sore and it sure does make eating, drinking and sleeping uncomfortable. Then comes fever and a sore throat, as well. In small children, drooling could be one symptom and so can be swollen lymph nodes in the neck.

Once the HSV makes its way into the system of a person, it stays there for the remainder of his life and worse, it may cause the fever blisters to recur throughout his lifetime. It has been observed that many people experience 1-12 outbreaks a year and somehow the number dwindles as they get older. In other words, cold sores does not have a cure. However, there are treatment methods which may help lessen the pain, irritation and shorten the duration of the sores. These medications include topical drugs and oral antiviral medications. Even the recurrence of the sores may be prevented with the help of some prescription-strength medications.