Coldsores, also called fever blisters and oral herpes, are a global epidemic - or pandemic.

Coldsores are the visible symptom of an active herpes virus infestation. More specifically, coldsores are the result of the reproduction process of the herpes virus.

The World Health Organization estimates 85% to 91% of the world population currently carries the herpes simplex virus type 1 or 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2). For all practical purposes, that means just about everybody is infected with the coldsores virus. Recorded history shows that this has been true since about 500 years prior to the Roman Empire.

HSV-1 is responsible for about 80% of reoccurring coldsores. The other 20% of coldsores are caused by HSV-2.

Of those infected with the herpes virus, 76% will have one or several coldsores within the next 12 months. The other 24% often go a lifetime without experiencing any symptom of coldsores.

The herpes virus most of the time is latent, or in hibernation, in the nerve ganglia nearest to the site of your coldsores. In the case of facial coldsores, this would be in an area behind the jawbone, near the brain stem.

When the coldsores virus becomes active, they travel up the nerve fibers to the surface where they replicate and create those painful coldsores right on the end of the nerves.

Coldsores normally occur on the face, appearing on the edge of the lip, called the vermilion border. The nostril is also a common site for coldsores.

What most people don't know, however, is coldsores can appear anywhere from the waist up. For example: fingertip coldsores do occur. They're often a much more painful event because of the constant use of the fingers in our daily routine.

Coldsores are extremely contagious. The coldsores virus spreads externally, not internally. Kissing is the primary way coldsores are transmitted to others - especially from adults to children. Most people are infected before they're a dozen years old.

The lips, mouth and nose are not protected by skin and are an easy target. Coldsores can also spread to anywhere on the body where the virus can find an opening - like a cut on the finger.

Although coldsores are not life threatening, coldsores can cause a lot of grief and damage if spread to the eyes with contaminated fingers. This can cause loss of sight. Also, with oral sex, the coldsores can be spread to the vagina or penis, creating the dreaded genital herpes.

Coldsores are contagious from the first itching stage to the disappearance of the final red spot. They are most contagious during the open weeping and crust stages. The crust cracks frequently when you move your mouth, as in smiling.

The fluid from these coldsores is absolutely teaming with the coldsores virus.

Extreme caution must be taken with active coldsores. Coldsores itch and hurt a lot, so we tend to touch them frequently. Then the virus sheds to our fingers - and is easily transmitted to another location or person.

Page 1 of 2 :: First | Last :: Prev | 1 2 | Next