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Cold Sores (cont.)

Cold Sore Symptoms

  • Some patients have a "prodrome," which is when certain symptoms occur before the actual sores appear. The prodrome to herpes infections typically involves a burning or tingling sensation that precedes the appearance of blisters by a few hours or a day or two. As the cold sore forms, the area may become reddened and develop small fluid-filled blisters. Several of these small blisters may even come together and form one large blister. Cold sores are mildly painful.

  • When cold sores recur, the blisters dry up rapidly and leave scabs that last anywhere from a day to several days, depending on the severity of the infection.


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Herpes Simplex Infections (Cold Sores, Non-Genital) - Describe Your Experience

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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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