Cold+Sores-Fever+Blisters

=**Cold Sores-Fever Blisters**= - Cold sores, sometimes called fever blisters, are groups of small blisters on the lip and around the mouth. - The skin around the blisters is often red, swollen, and sore. - The blisters may break open, leak a clear fluid, and then scab over after a few days. - They usually heal in several days to 2 weeks.
 * **What Are Cold Sores?**

- Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). - There are two types of herpes simplex virus: HSV-1 and HSV-2. Both virus types can cause sores around the mouth (herpes labialis) and on the genitals (genital herpes). - The herpes simplex virus usually enters the body through a break in the skin around or inside the mouth. It is usually spread when a person touches a cold sore or touches infected fluid-such as from sharing eating utensils or razors, kissing an infected person, or touching that person's saliva. - A parent who has a cold sore often spreads the infection to his or her child in this way. - Cold sores can also be spread to other areas of the body.
 * What Causes Cold Sores?

- Most people infected with HSV-2 are not aware of their infection. However, if signs and symptoms occur during the first outbreak, they can be quite pronounced. - The first outbreak usually occurs within two weeks after the virus is transmitted, and the sores typically heal within two to four weeks. - Other signs and symptoms during the primary episode may include a second crop of sores, and flu-like symptoms, including fever and swollen glands. - However, most individuals with HSV-2 infection never have sores, or they have very mild signs that they do not even notice or that they mistake for insect bites or another skin condition. - Genital herpes can cause recurrent painful genital sores in many adults, and herpes infection can be severe in people with suppressed immune systems. Regardless of severity of symptoms, genital herpes frequently causes psychological distress in people who know they are infected. - In addition, genital HSV can lead to potentially fatal infections in babies. - Health care providers can diagnose genital herpes by visual inspection if the outbreak is typical, and by taking a sample from the sore(s) and testing it in a laboratory. HSV infections can be diagnosed between outbreaks by the use of a blood test. Blood tests, which detect antibodies to HSV-1 or HSV-2 infection, can be helpful, although the results are not always clear-cut. - There is no treatment that can cure herpes, but antiviral medications can shorten and prevent outbreaks during the period of time the person takes the medication. In addition, daily suppressive therapy for symptomatic herpes can reduce transmission to partners. - The surest way to avoid transmission of sexually transmitted diseases, including genital herpes, is to abstain from sexual contact, or to be in a long-term mutually single relationship with a partner who has been tested and is known to be uninfected.
 * Symptoms?
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 * How to Diagnose..
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