What are the Main Causes of Cold Sores?

You are prone to different kinds of infections caused by harmful bacteria and viruses most especially if you have poor immune system. There are two kinds of harmful microorganisms that can cause such infections and these are the bacteria and virus. You may acquire different viral infections and one common example of these is cold sores.

Do you know what causes cold sores? Cold sores are tiny blisters that usually appear all over the mouth. They are clear and often full of fluid. This infection is caused by herpes simplex virus which typically attacks the nerve cells and tissues. Other terms used for this viral infection are fever blisters and herpes simplex. It is not similar with genital herpes but they are both contagious.

Oftentimes, individuals get infected with cold sores since their childhood period. The blisters will appear within few days up to weeks and even years after the initial exposure to this virus. The initial symptoms might appear as more intense compared to the succeeding outbreaks. For instance, some infected persons may feel worse pain in the part where the blister exists. Others have flu-like symptoms such as swollen glands, sore throat and fever.

Some persons get confuse with cold sores and canker sores. These sores are very different from each other. You must remember that cold sores exist all over the mouth and canker sores affect the interior part of the mouth. Furthermore, the causative microorganism of cold sores is a virus while the canker sores are triggered by bacteria. Cold sores may appear due to sunlight, stress, foods that contain arginine like chocolate, fever, allergies to certain foods and hormonal changes.

When you have cold sores, you will pass its five cold sore stages. This viral infection could last up to 14 days if left untreated. Starting treatment during the initial indication of tingling could lessen the duration of infection from 2 to 4 days. The treatment given after the existence of blisters will also help you to get faster recovery.

During the first day, you will have a tingling and itching sensation under your skin. Typically, you will feel it all over your mouth or at the base of your nose. This stage is the ideal time to begin with treatment. The second until third day is the period when the cold sores will appear. The succeeding part is known as the weeping phase. It is the time when the sores will burst and expose the reddish area. This is period where the possibility of infection’s transmission is very high.

When you reach the fifth to eighth day or the crusting stage, you will notice that the blisters are starting to dry and crust form appears which is in yellow or brown in color. Never try to prick the blisters to prevent further infections. During the ninth to fortieth which is known as the healing stage, the scabs will appear at the top of cold sore, they are smaller compared with the previous ones. This is the last stage wherein the sores will completely heal.