Fever blisters, also known as cold sores, are typically a collection or bunch of blisters or eruptions that are formed on and around the mouth. They are caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), and it is important to know what exactly leads to their breakout. The type of HSV that causes fever blisters is called HSV-I. The HSV-I lurks inside the body and lies inactive in the facial nerves until it gets activated by any of the following reasons:
- Tension/stress
- Drastic and sudden diet alterations
- Cold
- Fever
- Exposure to the sun
- General illness
- Poor nutrition
- Some kind of suffering in the mouth
- In some cases HSV-I gets activated by dental treatment that stretches the lips.
- Many women get fever blisters only during menstruation.
- Sometimes fever blisters may appear for no reason at all.
The HSV-I can become active at any time. Once the HSV-I goes active, the fever blisters start to appear. Fever blisters can appear on the lips, around them, on the gums, and inside the mouth. HSV-I is passed on a person-to-person basis by way of saliva (kissing, drinking from the same bottle, etc.) or from skin contact. It can also infect the eyes.
Symptoms and signs
Fever blisters are characterized by open sores in the mouth. There is swelling as well and there is pain. Some folks develop a sore throat. The fever blisters appear around lip borders, and may also occur inside the mouth of people who possess a weak immune system. The fever blister area tingles, burns and itches, which is followed by swelling and skin redness. Then more tiny blisters appear and erupt and cause sores (cold sores) and then get eventually covered by scab-like yellow crusts, which shed themselves and re-form as the sore gets healed over time (they last between 7 and 10 days).
Diagnosis and medical treatment
A physician can easily diagnose fever blisters by way of an examination and perusal of your medical history. There are many vaccines available to cure fever blisters, but know that HSV-I is extremely common and most folks will get fever blisters during their lifetime. Antiviral medicines may prevent cold sores from forming so long you take them before the fever blisters pop out – once they erupt, the medicine cannot help. Sunscreen applied on lips can help prevent fever blisters that are caused by sun exposure.
You must keep the fever blister area clean and untouched. See a doctor if the fever blisters do not go away after 8-10 days or make it tough for you to speak or eat or cause a fever or cause another fever blister outbreak.