Cold Sores: Who Can Get Infected?
Cold sores are seen as red small blisters often occurring on the upper lip of an infected individual and are directly caused by Herpes simplex virus type 1 infection. These blisters are often painful and agonizing. First seen as tiny watery lumps in its early stage, these lumps then turn into red painful blisters. Other than your lips, cold sores are also most likely to appear inside the mouth and on or inside the nose. Generally, these sores can appear on almost any parts of the body including the genital area. But for the case of genital herpes, the Herpes simplex virus type 2 is often responsible.
Presently, there have already been a lot of individuals across the globe who are infected with the virus. The number is more likely to go up than fall down because HSV-1 gets to stay inside the body of the person without any cure at all. The virus gets to spread easily and fast as a person who is infected with such virus doesn’t always show the signs of cold sores. If ever you already have one, it is more likely that you have acquired the virus during your childhood years. Most cases are like this where a sufferer contracts the virus from close contact or getting kissed by an infected person.
As the virus easily spreads its infection, HSV-1 then enters your system into the ganglion which is a group of nerve cells. It is in these cells that the virus takes refuge and sleeps indefinitely until the time it gets reactivated. In some cases, the HSV-1 stays dormant or sleeps permanently. This explains why there are some people who are infected with the virus who don’t necessarily have cold sores.
Reactivation of the virus that causes cold sores is still unclear and uncertain. However, there have been some factors that are believed to contribute in reactivating the said virus. And some of these factors are tooth extractions, stress, sunlight, cold weather, hormonal changes, certain foods and drugs and other forms of infection. In general, the cause of cold sores is unpredictable and the person doesn’t necessarily have to have colds to contract cold sore.
The virus that causes cold sores is easily spread. If you happen to be infected with such virus, infecting other persons is easy and fast. All it takes is skin to skin contact or when a person gets in contact with oral secretions like through kissing. In general, infection is to spread more likely as even infected persons don’t know that they have already the virus. Other means of transmitting the virus to other persons include sharing cups and eating utensils, and lip balms and lip sticks.
For the case of genital herpes, virus is more likely to enter in the genital area among couples especially during oral sex. The cold sore blister on an infected person can also get worse when he or she touches the blisters and then touches other parts of the body especially on parts where there is a cut on it.
Conclusively, the HSV-1 chooses no specific victim to infect with. Any person is vulnerable from contracting the virus in various ways. Once infected, it is strongly advised not to touch, pinch, or squeeze the blisters. If not avoided, bear in mind that it is best not to touch other parts of your body.
