Herpes labialis: contagion, symptoms and treatment
How does cold sores spread , how can they be prevented, and what are the typical symptoms of a herpes infection?
Cold sores are an infectious disease caused by the Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), although in some cases it can be caused by the Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), usually responsible for genital infection.
Symptoms of Herpes on the Lips
This infectious disease manifests itself with the formation of blisters located mainly on the lips and containing yellowish serum, which then tend to break, transforming into scabs. In some rarer cases, herpetic lesions can form on the nose, chin, cheeks or palate.
Cold sores contagion: how to get cold sores
The virus is transmitted through direct contact with the lips or saliva of an infected person, or indirectly , through contaminated objects such as glasses, cutlery, lipstick, razors and towels.
There is also the possibility of self-contamination , when the person affected by cold sores transmits it to other parts of the body through the hands, saliva or objects that have come into contact with the lips.
Often the first infection occurs during childhood and is asymptomatic, or vice versa it can manifest itself with stomatitis , an inflammation of the oral cavity accompanied by swelling, redness, mouth ulcers and bleeding gums.
How to prevent cold sores
To prevent the spread of the virus, it is important to wash your hands often with soap and water and avoid bringing them from your mouth to the rest of your body, especially your eyes. If in contact with the eye area, the pathogen can cause herpetic keratitis , an inflammation of the cornea that can become recurrent and recur in some favorable situations (for example, stress, excessive exposure to the sun, hormonal changes).
In case of fever on the lip it is advisable to avoid kissing or exchanging potentially contaminated objects, in order to reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to family and friends.
When is cold sores contagious?
Herpes lip is a highly contagious infectious disease, from the initial stage that precedes the formation of vesicles in the area around the lips. The peak of contagiousness occurs in the inflammatory phase , that is, when the red spots transform into blisters.
Transmission occurs through direct or indirect contact with the fluid contained in the vesicles or saliva. After the first infection, the virus nests in the nearest neuronal ganglia and becomes invisible to the immune system , as well as immune to drugs. If you find favorable conditions (stress, psychophysical tiredness, hormonal changes or excessive exposure to the sun) herpes can reactivate even after a long time, causing the typical eruption on the lips, or remain silent for life.
How to cure it
As we were saying, no drug is able to eliminate the Herpes simplex virus from the nerve cells where it remains latent. For this reason, it is important to prevent it by regularly applyingHerpaso Plus in moments of greatest risk of recurrence. It is also useful to observe some simple rules to help the body's immune defenses. For more information, read the article " How to prevent cold sores ".