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
Canker Sore Overview
Canker sores, also known as aphthous stomatitis, are among the most common causes of painful sores in the mouth.
- From 20%-40% of the U.S. population have them at some
point in their lives.
- The peak incidence occurs among people in adolescence
and young adulthood. They become less frequent as we get older.
- They are not contagious.
- Canker sores are not the same thing as cold sores. Cold sores ("fever blisters") occur on the outer lip, whereas canker sores are found inside the mouth.
Canker Sore Causes
No one knows what causes canker sores. The vast majority of people who develop canker sores do not have another problem as the cause.
- The disease is suspected to result from a reaction of
the immune system.
- Additional causative factors may include the
following:
...
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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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