The Signs and Symptoms Of Oral Herpes

Oral herpes is commonly known to most of us as cold sores or fever blisters. It’s transmitted by a virus that can spread by touching and kissing. Oral herpes is contagious and often its victims find it very difficult to cope with the symptoms.

Oral herpes occurs when your body is attacked by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) Type I. It’s quite possible that you may be carrying the HSV I virus, but may not display its symptoms. But for those who are less fortunate, painful blisters normally appear close to the spot where the virus has entered your body. And what’s worse is that though the blisters close up and heal, they may recur and erupt at the very same spot.

Not everybody suffers from recurrent attacks, but for others the attacks may vary in frequency ranging from once a month to once a year. Between these attacks, the virus resides deep inside at the root of the nerves that go to the affected areas. The virus is said to be dormant or latent as it rests quietly in the nerve ganglions. It is said to be active when it starts moving down the nerve to the skin surface.

The recurrent cold sore infections are normally much milder than the primary infection. It is triggered off by a variety of factors as varied as exposure to the sun or a stressful situation. Even a common fever could trigger off an attack of recurrent herpes.

The most common location for oral herpes is generally the mouth and lips. That’s why an attack of oral herpes is known as cold sores or fever blisters.

Symptoms of Oral Herpes

The signs and symptoms of oral herpes begin a day before the blisters actually erupt. Most patients report a pain, burning or tingling sensation near the lips and the mouth. This is followed shortly by the blisters.

The blisters first appear as red spots. As they develop further, they get filled up with fluid. The blisters break easily and naturally. Sometimes, the skin can develop an itch, just before the blisters open and ooze. Once the blisters start to dry up, they attain a yellowish, crusted look. Once the scabs slough off, the area will have a raw, red look for a period of time. The number of blisters will vary depending on individual cases. Some people get just one; others may be hit by a whole cluster of blisters.

Oral herpes attacks the mouth area with intensity. There will be sores in the lips, gums, inside the cheeks, on the roof of the mouth and on the tongue and throat. With such a vicious attack, most victims are unable to drink or eat. This adds to the discomfort and weakness.

In extremely severe cases, the oral herpes will extend down from the mouth area to the neck. This can affect the lymph nodes. The herpes will cause the lymph nodes to become infected. They also get swollen. The pain from the infection can be pretty bad.

The blisters are not the only thing that a cold sore victim has to cope with. They are often accompanied by tiredness, muscle pain, and irritability. Most people also come down with fever.

Once an attack of cold sore begins, it takes around 10-12 days before it clears up completely. Since cold sores are highly contagious, it makes sense to take basic precautions when dealing with patients. The patients must ensure that they do not touch anybody else, especially after touching a blister or a sore. Avoid sharing items of personal use like toothbrushes, make-up, cups and spoons. This is because infected saliva is one of the most common ways by which the infection spread. Contrary to popular belief, the infection does not spread by sharing towels or washcloths.

Oral herpes is at its most contagious when the blisters have formed.  Once the blisters have crusted over, the chances of infection reduce considerably. But it should still be regarded as contagious.

Complications of Oral Herpes

Oral herpes could lead to a few medical complications. HVS Type I can infect the eyes and cause herpes keratitis. This could lead to blindness. In fact, it’s the most frequent cause of corneal blindness in the United States. Herpes keratitis leads to sensitivity and irritation in the eye, accompanied by pain and a discharge. Topical anti-viral treatment is helpful but the infection can recur.

Oral herpes is definitely not an easy condition to deal with. It involves pain, discomfort and social embarrassment. It’s difficult to hide the outbreak and most patients tend to isolate themselves until the attack has passed. However, a doctor can prescribe medication to make it easier to deal with the attack. These include topical anti-viral creams. People who are prone to recurrent attacks may need oral suppressive therapy.

Unfortunately, research has yet to discover a vaccine against the HSV Type I virus.