Did you know that billions of people have herpes? You might freak out upon learning that cold sores are caused by a type of herpes virus. In truth, however, it’s really no big deal. It’s a fairly common infection and it can be easily treated. In fact, you can leave your cold sores alone, and they will heal just fine in a matter of days.
However, there are instances when cold sores may pose serious health risks, especially if you have a weak immune system or when the virus causes other complications. If you’re worried about cold sores, continue reading and learn more about oral herpes.
Overview
Also called fever blisters, the lesions caused by HSV1 are commonly known as cold sores. Although HSV-1 or herpes simplex virus type 1 is the one that is usually associated with cold sores, it’s also possible to develop cold sores after being infected with HSV2, which is the herpes virus subtype that usually causes genital herpes.
It’s important to know that the herpes virus is highly contagious and that once you contract it, it’s a lifelong infection. Currently, there are no vaccines or cure available yet. The treatment options available right now are unable to get rid of the virus from your system, but they can provide relief and help hasten the healing process.
Mode of Transmission
Whereas genital herpes is typically contracted through sexual contact, HSV1 is usually contracted through direct skin contact with the affected area or through direct contact with body fluids containing the virus such as your saliva and genital secretions.
Because HSV1 typically causes fluid-filled lesions on the lips or around the mouth, you can get infected when you kiss someone with cold sores or touch their fever blisters. If you touch or use something that was in direct contact with the saliva of someone with cold sores, such as when you share a glass or a spoon while eating, you could get infected as well.
If you have cold sores and perform oral sex on your partner, you will cause your partner to become infected. This is actually the reason why some people develop HSV1-related genital herpes.
Another reason why HSV1 affects so many people is that the virus can be transmitted even at a time when you’re not experiencing any visible symptoms. This is called asymptomatic viral shedding.
And although there are no symptoms present, it doesn’t mean that the virus is less contagious or potent. In fact, asymptomatic viral shedding is very risky because the infected person and the people around have no idea at all that the herpes virus is being passed on.
Some people who have had several episodes of cold sores have learned to manage their symptoms and prevent the virus from spreading by abstaining from physical contact during an outbreak. But when you don’t have any cold sores, you might think that it’s alright to kiss or perform oral sex, which can then put your partner at risk.
When Is It A Big Deal?
Most of the time, healthy adults don’t really suffer from any major complications when they go through a cold sore outbreak. However, if your immune system is weakened because you’re suffering from another disease, it’s possible that the herpes virus might cause widespread infection and affect your other organs.
Those who are at risk of herpes complications include people with HIV, cancer, and other chronic diseases like atopic dermatitis. For people who are immune-compromised, a cold sore outbreak may be accompanied by more severe symptoms, or they may experience more frequent flareups.
Babies, especially newborns, are also at risk. There are many cases of newborn babies dying several days after they contracted the herpes virus. Some of them contracted the disease because they had contact with someone who had cold sores. There are also times when an HSV-positive mother passes the virus on to the baby during childbirth.
Possible Complications
The herpes virus enters the body through the sensory nerves. Once you’re infected, the herpes virus may stay dormant while hiding inside your nerve cells or it may become active right away and cause a cold sore outbreak within a matter of days after you contracted the infection.
There are times when the herpes virus goes up to the brain. When the infection spreads to your brain, it can cause the brain to become inflamed which then leads to encephalitis.
When this happens, you will need to be treated right away. Otherwise, severe neurological damage can occur, and you may also suffer other symptoms such as seizures, dizziness, and confusion.
When the herpes virus inside your system becomes active, it can cause cold sores to form on your lips. In some instances, the virus can also cause fever blisters to form near or inside your eyes. This is referred to as ocular herpes.
If the herpes lesions form in the deeper regions of your cornea, that can be very problematic as it can affect your vision. It can cause your vision to become blurry. If the infection is severe, it may even lead to loss of vision.
Treatment Options
You may also want to use cold sore creams that contain docosanol or topical anesthetics. For pain relief, you can simply take over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen. Home remedies such as tea tree oil, lemon balm oil, and aloe vera may also be helpful.
Things to Remember
Since HSV1 is extremely contagious, you may want to keep your distance from your loved ones whenever you have a cold sore outbreak. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to keep yourself in isolation. Rather, it means that you should avoid close contact with the people around you to minimize the risks of spreading the virus.
If you’re worried that your cold sores may affect your sex life, you can actually still have sexual intercourse with your partner. You just need to make sure that you’re wearing protection and that your partner’s skin doesn’t touch the part of your body where your cold sores are located.
Of course, it would also help your sexual performance if you take Male UltraCore regularly. With Male UltraCore, you won’t have to worry at all about losing your libido or not being able to perform well in bed.
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