Signs and symptoms
June 1st, 2008 | by admin |Oral herpes is commonly referred to as “cold sores” and “fever blisters.” While symptoms of oral herpes most commonly appear on or around the lips, oral herpes is not always limited to this area. For some, symptoms may appear between the upper lip, on or inside the nose, or on the chin or cheek. In these instances, herpes is referred to as oral-facial herpes.
Oral HSV-1 is especially common, with many people acquiring it during early childhood or adolescence. You have most likely seen someone experiencing an oral herpes outbreak before.
First episode
A primary infection with oral herpes can be similar to a first episode of genital herpes in that pronounced symptoms occur. During the first episode, classic lesions tend to form as small fluid-filled blisters that can appear as a single blister or in a cluster. Sores may also appear inside the mouth or on the back of the throat, and the lymph nodes in the neck may swell.
Much like genital herpes, however, symptoms of oral herpes can be very mild and go unnoticed. Subtle symptoms can be easily mistaken for another infection or condition such as a small crack or cut in the skin, chapped lips, bug bite, or a pimple, to name a few examples.
Recurrences
At least a quarter of people with oral herpes experience recurrences. Again, as with the first episode, symptoms vary from person to person. Lesions may appear as either a blister or a cluster of blisters or sores. It is possible that a recurrence will involve only the subtle symptoms described above.
Signs and symptoms of a recurrent episode (when they occur) tend to last about 8 – 10 days on average. Blister- or sore-like lesions will usually crust over during the healing phase. If the first episode produced fairly mild symptoms, then subsequent recurrences also tend to be mild. The frequency of recurrences varies from person to person and tends to decrease over time. Exposure to sunlight’s ultraviolet rays may trigger a recurrence.
Prodrome
Many people will experience a “prodrome” or warning symptom prior to developing an outbreak. As you may recall from the section on genital herpes, a “prodrome” is an itching, tingling, or painful sensation in the area where their recurrent lesions will develop. The prodrome often precedes lesions by a day or two. During this time, it is best to assume virus is active (and, therefore, can be spread through close contact).
