WHAT YOU SHOULD
KNOW
Cold sores, also known as fever blisters, are caused by
herpes (HER-peez) simplex 1 virus (HSV-1). This common virus
can create painful blisters on the lips, gums, and mouth. It
sometimes affects the sex organs, and in rare cases affects the
eyeball.
Causes
The virus usually spreads through
person-to-person contact. It can also be caught through contact
with saliva, bowel movements, urine, or fluid from an infected
eye. The blisters carry infection until they
heal.
Signs/Symptoms
Typically, painful blisters
develop around the mouth (and sometimes the sex organs). The
blisters are yellowish in the middle with a thin red ring
around them. If the eye is infected, it becomes red and
painful, and may feel as though there is a foreign object in
it. The eye may also be sensitive to light and produce copious
tears.
Care
Use acetaminophen for pain. You
may be given medicine to take by mouth or an antibiotic cream
to put on your blisters if they become infected with
bacteria.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
-
You may use acetaminophen to help relieve pain, but
DO NOT TAKE ASPIRIN.
-
Don't touch the blisters or pick at the scabs. Until
the blisters heal, don't touch your eyes without washing
your hands first. Wash your hands
often.
-
To help reduce discomfort, apply an ice cube or ice
pack to your lip for 30 minutes or suck on frozen juice
bars.
-
Apply rubbing alcohol to the blisters to reduce
swelling and to help the sores dry up. Do this for 2
minutes, 4 times a day.
-
Protect your lips from the sun by using a sunscreen
when you go outdoors.
-
Avoid close contact with other people, especially
kissing or oral sex, until the blisters heal. The virus
that causes cold sores usually is different from the one
that causes sores on the genitals. However, cold sores may
occur in persons who have oral sex with a partner who has
genital herpes.
-
Hot or cold foods may hurt your mouth, and you may
want to use a straw. Eating a well-balanced diet will help
healing.
-
If an eye gets infected, don't use any type of
eyedrops without first checking with your doctor. Certain
eyedrops can make the herpes virus grow in the
cornea.
-
To lessen the chance of getting blisters again, avoid
direct sunlight and stress, and don't let yourself get
run-down.
Call Your Doctor If...
-
Your eye feels irritated, or you feel like you have
something in your eye.
-
You develop a fever, feel achy, or see pus instead of
clear fluid in the sores. These are signs of a bacterial
infection.
-
You get blisters on your
genitals.
-
You develop new, unexplained
symptoms.
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