Cold Sores
- Cold Sores Overview
- Cold Sore Causes
- Cold Sore Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Exams and Tests
- Cold Sore Treatment
- Self-Care at Home
- Medical Treatment
- Next Steps
- Follow-up
- Prevention
- Outlook
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
- Related cold sores articles:
Cold sores - on WebMD
Cold sores - on MedicineNet - Viewer Comments: Herpes Simplex Infections (Cold Sores, Non-Genital) - Describe Your Experience
Cold Sores Overview
Cold sores are small, painful, fluid-filled blisters or sores that appear on the lips, mouth, or nose that are caused by a virus. The sores can be painful and usually last a few days. Unlike most viral infections, the cold sore virus is not completely eliminated by the body defenses. For this reason, cold sores often recur.
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Viewer Comments & Reviews
Herpes Simplex Infections (Cold Sores, Non-Genital) - Describe Your Experience
Please describe your experience with herpes simplex infections (cold sores, non-genital).
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Cold Sores
Colds Overview
The cold is the most commonly occurring illness in the entire world, with more than 1 billion colds per year reported in the United States alone. The common cold is a self-limiting illness caused by any 1 of more than 200 viruses.
The common cold produces mild symptoms usually lasting only 5-10 days. In contrast, the "flu" (influenza), which is caused by a different class of virus, can have severe symptoms.
Causes of Colds
- Of the viruses that cause a cold, the most commonly occurring subtype is a group that lives in the nasal passages known as the "rhinovirus." Other less common cold viruses include coronavirus, adenovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
- Contrary to popular belief, the vast majority of cold viruses do not spread through the air and seldom are transmitted from airborne particles expelled when someone with a cold coughs or sneezes.
- The pr...
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Herpes Simplex »
Herpes simplex viruses (HSVs) are DNA viruses that cause acute skin infections and present as grouped vesicles on an erythematous base.
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