Type 2 HSV is mainly associated with genital and rectal infections ( anogenital herpes).Type 1 HSV is mainly associated with oral and facial infections.Worse yet, you might spread the virus to other people.Herpes simplex is caused by one of two types of herpes simplex virus (HSV), members of the Herpesvirales family of double-stranded DNA viruses. Picking at a cold sore is also bad news because it’s easy to spread the virus to other parts or your body, like your fingers or eyes. You’ll only get in the way of your body’s natural healing process. While you’re waiting for the cold sore to go away, wash your hands regularly and don’t pick at it. Some kids may take acetaminophen or ibuprofen if their sores are painful. Sometimes, if the cold sores are making a kid sick, a doctor may prescribe a special medicine that fights the herpes simplex virus. If you get a cold sore, try holding some ice wrapped in cloth on the sore. Treating Cold Soresįor most kids, the sores go away on their own without any special treatment from a doctor. Putting on sunblock lip balm and sunscreen on the face before going out in the sun may help prevent cold sores from reappearing in kids who tend to get them.
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Eating well, getting enough rest, and learning how to deal with stress are important things for any kid to do, especially a kid who is likely to get cold sores. For some kids, too much stress, too much time in the sun, or getting sick can cause cold sores to reappear. If you’ve had cold sores before, it can be hard to tell what might make them come back.
Sharing towels, washcloths, or napkins is off-limits, too, because the virus may survive on the fabric. If someone you know has a cold sore, don’t kiss him or her and don’t drink out of the same glass or use the same knife, fork, or spoon. How Can I Keep From Getting Cold Sores?Īlthough HSV-1 isn’t a big deal, it’s a good idea to try to keep cold sores as far away as possible. When a cold sore reappears, it is often in the same place as the previous one. That’s because even after the sores themselves dry up and go away, the virus stays in the body, waiting around for another time to come out and cause more sores. Kids who get infected with HSV-1 may get cold sores occasionally for the rest of their lives. People can catch HSV-1 by kissing a person with a cold sore or sharing a drinking glass or utensils, so it’s easy to see why there are so many cold sores around. HSV-1 is so common that most Americans get infected with it, although many never have any symptoms. Although both can cause cold sores around a person’s mouth, most are caused by HSV-1. There are two types of herpes simplex infection: herpes simplex virus one (called HSV-1 for short) and herpes simplex virus two (called HSV-2 for short). The medical name for the specific virus that causes cold sores is herpes simplex. Herpes is one of the most common viral infections in the world. (Cold sores aren’t the same as canker sores, which are small white sores that are always found inside the mouth.) What Causes Cold Sores?Ĭold sores are caused by a virus called herpes (say: HUR-peez). Some people call them fever blisters, but you don’t have to have a fever to have one, either. They last a week or two and usually don’t require any special treatment.Īlthough they’re called cold sores, you don’t need to have a cold to get one. They are filled with fluid but crust over and form a scab before they go away. Cold sores can appear one at a time or in little bunches. They are usually on the outer edge of the lip or inside the mouth. What Is a Cold Sore?Ĭold sores are small blisters that is reddish and a little painful. When he woke up the next morning and his lip still felt strange, he looked in the mirror and yelled “What’s on my mouth?” His mom took a look and said, “Oh, you have a cold sore.” Adam’s lip had been feeling itchy all day - itchy and a little tingly, like someone was tickling it lightly.