Self-Care Pocket Guide • Cold, Allergies, and Such
Cold Sores / Fever Blisters / Oral Herpes

Overview

Cold sores are very common and highly contagious. They're caused by herpes viruses. Outbreaks may increase with stress, illnesses (even colds), excessive sun exposure, menstrual periods, dental treatment, and/or other "triggers." Cold sores usually involve the lips, gums, and mouth.

You can transmit herpes viruses to your eyes if you touch a sore and then touch your eyes. This can lead to major vision problems. Oral herpes can be transmitted to the genital area during oral-genital sex. The advice in this section pertains only to cold sores that occur on, around, or in the mouth.

Signs and Symptoms

• A "prodrome" period with itching, tingling, burning and/or pain at the outbreak site and/or fever less than 100.5 degrees F (38 degrees C) before sores appear. You can transmit the viruses at this time even though sores aren't yet visible.
• Small, painful blisters that break and ooze, form a painful ulcer, and then form a crusted, scabbed lesion.

Self-Care Measures

• Don't rub or scratch your cold sores.
• Wash your hands frequently. Keep them away from your eyes and genitals.
• Avoid spicy, salty, or acidic foods.
• Take an OTC analgesic for pain, or apply ice to your sores.
• Use an OTC drying or soothing agent such as Anbesol, Orabase, or Blistex, but don't use it on sores on your genitals or inside your mouth.
• Use a topical OTC antiviral medication (e.g. Abreva). For best results, start using it when prodromal sensations first occur but definitely within 24 hours of the onset of your symptoms.
• Don't kiss or perform oral sex on anyone during the prodrome period and until your sores are healed. Be advised: Viruses sometimes can be transmitted even outside of these times.

CALL THE UHS 24-HOUR NURSE ADVICE LINE 475-NURS (475-6877) IF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING OCCURS:

• Inability to eat or drink.
• Sores on your genitals, near your eyes or on your nose.
• Any indication that your eyes are infected such as redness, pain, or swelling.
• Signs of infection of your sores such as increased tenderness, swelling, yellowish-green oozing and/or fever of 100.5 F (38 degrees C) or higher.
• Sores that don't heal within 2 weeks or new sores that continue to appear.