Over half of the adult American population has had oral herpes once in their life. The majority of them will have it by the age of 50. Oral herpes is most often contracted during childhood and is also known as a "cold sore" or "fever blister." There are common signs of an oncoming outbreak which can be treated with a doctor's care.
Identification
Oral herpes is a rash which affects the area around the mouth and sometimes other facial areas. It is highly contagious and comes from the same viral family as mononucleosis, chicken pox and shingles. Oral herpes is related to HIV-2 which can cause AIDS but is not deadly and is much more common.
First Signs
The first signs of an outbreak are similar to genital herpes. Lesions form as small blisters filled with fluid. These can be single blisters or a cluster. With oral herpes these blisters can appear inside the mouth, but have been found inside the nose, back of the throat or around the lips. These first signs can be mild and mistaken for another infection or go unnoticed. Possible mistaken identification can include cracked skin, bug bites, chapped lips and pimples.
Recurrence
Recurring symptoms are common up to 25 percent of the time. Recurring symptoms will repeat the first signs of outbreak usually. If the first outbreak occurred around the lips, then recurring outbreaks will do the same. The blisters will crust over during healing with each recurrence. Depending on the person, the number of outbreaks will vary. Recurrence of oral herpes does decrease over time and as you get older.
Time Frame
Most cases of oral herpes will last up to ten days. Warning symptoms prior to the actual outbreak can occur a day or two days in advance. These warning signs can include itching, painful sensations, or tingling at the site of the outbreak. Like other highly contagious virus this is also the best time to pass the virus on to others through close contact.
Treatment
The best time to treat the symptoms of oral herpes is at the warning stage of the outbreak. If you know you have had oral herpes, and feel irritation around where the outbreak occurred, this is the time to look at treatment for the next outbreak which is coming. Oral herpes cannot be cured. A doctor's diagnosis will tell you the best treatment for your case. Creams such as Zovirax and Vectavir are available in pharmacies.
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