As its name suggests, cold sores affect the lips as well as the inside of the mouth or the area around it. It usually appears as a painful blister with fluid on the outside of the lips or the surrounding area, which then “breaks” and creates an open wound.
often preceded by a burning sensation, numbness, and itching in the area around the mouth.
Herpes zoster is almost exclusively caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). In rare cases, it can also be caused by type 2 of the herpes simplex virus HSV-2, which is mainly responsible for genital herpes. The reverse version, that is, the cause of genital herpes by the HSV-1 virus, which mainly causes cold sores, is much more probable and has become quite common in recent years, especially in the countries of the western world. This is considered to be due to the different series of habits mainly in oral sex. However, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) it is estimated that about 67% of the world’s population under the age of 50 are infected. In other words, this is a very common infection. Other sources make it clear that the proportion of people with recurrent herpes zoster is quite high, ranging from 30% to 40%. However, the disease does not cause serious complications in healthy people and the symptoms resolve on their own. However, as long as they are different, they can be quite annoying and in combination with the periodic recurrence that characterizes them, often causes, disproportionate to their severity, social stress. Exceptions that need to pay more attention to cold sores are those who have a weakened immune system and newborns.
Treating cold sores in many cases does not require any special treatment, whether it is an initial episode or a recurrence, as there is a spontaneous remission of the infection after a few days or weeks. There is no cure for the virus, however, treatment is chosen by many as it relieves the symptoms and shortens their duration. Most commonly, antiviral drugs are used for topical application, in the form of a cream or gel, or for oral administration, in the form of a tablet. In addition, in recent years, special patches enriched with antiviral drugs have been commercialized, which are selected by many patients for aesthetic reasons. Early initiation of treatment (within 24-48 hours) is crucial for successful treatment of lesions. Immunocompromised patients, depending on the severity of the clinical picture, may need longer-term sedation therapy, with proper medical supervision.
