Health encyclopaedia

Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

Cold sore

Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus, which also causes genital herpes. The strain that causes cold sores around the mouth is called Type 1 (HSV-1).

Herpes simplex viruses are highly contagious. Around 80% of the UK population carry the herpes simplex viruses, but for the majority of the time they lie dormant (inactive) in the nerves at the junction of skin and mucous membranes. Every now and then in some people, dormant viruses become active and cause cold sores.

Around 1 in 5 people in the UK have frequently recurring cold sores. Others will have one but then never have another. Some people never get them, either because they do not have the virus or because it never becomes active.

• Symptoms
• Diagnosis
• Prevention
• Treatment
• Causes
• Complications

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