Herpes simplex, is a virus that attacks the human
body. There are two types of the virus
and they are distinguished as herpes simplex one or HSV-1 and herpes simplex
two or HSV-2. Both types of the herpes
virus can occur anywhere on the body; but, as a rule they tend to stick to
their own territory. HSV-2 generally
attacks below the waist and causes infections known as genital herpes. HSV-1 infections tend to occur above the
waist and usually occur around the mouth area manifesting as cold sores or
fever blisters. Herpes simplex type one
can also be referred to as oral herpes, mouth herpes, or the more scientific
herpes simplex labialis.
Just as genital herpes usually starts with an
initial outbreak and continues with recurrent outbreaks, oral herpes mimics the
same time table. A person infected with
herpes simplex one can expect an initial painful outbreak followed by recurrent
outbreaks in the same location. There is
no set time line for reoccurrence. The
recurrent outbreaks can happen as infrequently as one or two times a year or as
often as 4 or 5 times a year.
The first sign or symptom a person with herpes
simplex one is likely to experience is a burning or tingling at the location
where the blisters will appear. This is
the same precursor for genital herpes.
The burning or tingling around the mouth can start a couple of hours or
days before the actual blisters area.
The next symptom is that the area will become red and swollen with some
pain. Finally, the blister will form on
top of the red area of your mouth. The
blisters will fill with fluid and eventually erupt and drain. This whole
process will last about two or three days.
The resulting sore will become scabbed and take up to ten days to fully
heal. In the meantime, they sores will
be dry and crusty and will probably itch quite a bit. It is best to touch them as little as
possible; picking the scabs can be quite painful and delay the healing
process. The good news is that they
should not leave any scars behind.
Herpes simplex 1 basically has two phases: the
primary outbreak and the recurrent outbreaks.
Most people infected with herpes simplex one contract the virus as a
child. The only good news is that not
all people who contract the virus have a primary outbreak. For those who do experience a primary
outbreak of herpes simplex 1 it is quite painful and can be debilitating. Blisters can form around the mouth, on the
lips, and inside of the mouth. The
blister can be accompanied by flu-like symptoms such as fever and inflamed
glands. Also, a person experiencing a
primary outbreak can suffer from bleeding gums.
These symptoms can last for several days. They are followed by the scabbing of the
sores until they heal completely and the skin returns to its normal state which
can take two to three weeks in a primary outbreak.
Still, the skin of the affected area can remain
painful to the touch for up to six weeks after the primary outbreak. The recurrent outbreaks are less severe than
the primary episode. Basically, after a
primary episode, the virus travels up the affected nerve cells to the ganglion
where is will lay dormant.
The virus can become active again due to stress,
illness that compromises the immune system, or for other unknown reasons. When it is called back to active duty, it
travels down the nerve pathway to its original site of occurrence causing
blisters and painful sores. The
recurrent outbreaks are not as long lasting or as painful as the primary
outbreak, if a person even had a primary outbreak.
Herpes simplex 1 is a very contagious virus. It can be spread from an infected person to
one not infected by kissing or other close contact with the infected area. People with ulcerated sores are at the most
contagious stage of the outbreak; but, even someone who does not have visible
sores can still transmit the virus to others.
The virus can be transmitted through shedding skin even if there are no
visible sores.
Also, the herpes simplex 1 virus can be transferred
from one person to another through infected saliva. Many claims have been made that you can
"catch" the virus from using the same towel as an infected person or
eating and drinking from the same plate or cup.
However, these are just "old wives' tales" and the virus is
nearly impossible to transmit except through direct contact with infected skin
or saliva.
While cold sores are thought to be fairly benign,
they can have more serious complications.
Excessive sores or pain around the mouth can cause a person to limit
their food and beverage intake which could lead to a serious case of
dehydration. Other risks include the
virus being spread to the fingers or eyes by touching the infected area with
your fingers. Keep the infected area
clean and finger free.
