Cold sores: symptoms

Knowing how to recognize the symptoms of cold sores is essential to intervene promptly on the infection, treating it before the annoying liquid-filled blisters form.

Symptoms of cold sores: the prodromal phase

The most typical signs of an approaching infection are well known to those who suffer from relapses:

• Tingling;
• Burning;
• Itching;
• Swelling;
• Feeling of numbness;
• Change in consistency of the lip.

All these symptoms , typical of the initial phase of the infection , can last from a few hours to a day. At this point you are already contagious and you must be careful not to transmit the virus to other people or spread it to the rest of the body, through contact with hands, infected lips or contaminated objects.

Knowing how to recognize the first signs of the virus allows for timely intervention with an antiviral therapy capable of blocking its progression, avoiding the formation of skin lesions or at least reducing their size.

The inflammatory phase

If you do not intervene immediately with the application ofHerpaso Plus or an antiviral drug, the affected area will become red and blisters filled with a clear liquid will form around the lips. This phase usually lasts 2-3 days, and is sometimes accompanied by a feeling of malaise, headache, low-grade fever and muscle pain.

Symptoms of Herpes Labialis in the Ulcerative Phase

As the days pass, the blisters swell and break, leaving a single superficial ulcer . This is the most painful stage of the infection, and also the most contagious, due to the fluid that leaks from the pustules.

The formation of the crust

As the days go by, the damaged skin tends to form a crust , which, as it hardens, can cause itching and break following the natural movements of the mouth, causing bleeding and burning. After 3-4 days, the crust falls off, exposing the underlying skin, which has healed in the meantime. It is therefore important to resist the temptation to scratch the herpes crusts with your fingers, to avoid the formation of scars.

The primary infection

If it is a first manifestation of the virus , typical of childhood, the symptoms of cold sores can be more serious:

• Irritation and swelling of the gums;
• Blisters in the mouth and on the lips;
• Sore throat;
• Fever;
• Nausea;
• Muscle pain;
• Swollen lymph nodes;
• Heachache.

Herpetic gingivostomatitis should be treated with the administration of specific antiviral drugs, in the form of oral suspension or tablets, as prescribed by the pediatrician.

For more information, read the article “ Cold sores in children: symptoms and treatments ”.