July 2, 2015
Herpes - Oral
Oral herpes is an infection of the lips, mouth, or gums due to the herpes simplex virus. It causes small, painful blisters commonly called cold sores or fever blisters. Oral herpes is also called herpes labialis.
- Research May Point to Treatment for Cold Sores
- Herpes Vaccine Falls Short in Clinical Trial
- Gel Cuts Women’s Risk of Herpes, Study Finds
- Understanding Genital Herpes
- The Claim: Oral Herpes Can Be Transferred to the Genitals
- Vaccination Graduates to an Older Crowd
- Experts Voice New Alarm On Herpes
- Deaths of Captive Asian Elephants May Be Linked to Virus Found in Their African Zoomates
- With Herbs, a 'Fuller Palette' for Skin Care
- Bell's Palsy Is Linked With Herpes Infection
Back to TopAlternative Names
Cold sore; Fever blister; Oral herpes simplex; Herpes labialis; Herpes simplex
Back to TopCauses
Oral herpes is a common infection of the mouth area. It is caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Most people in the United States are infected with this virus by age 20.
After the first infection, the virus goes to sleep (becomes dormant) in the nerve tissues in the face. Sometimes, the virus later "wakes up" (reactivates), causing cold sores.
Herpes virus type 2 (HSV-2) most often causes genital herpes. However, sometimes HSV-2 is spread to the mouth during oral sex, causing oral herpes.
Herpes viruses spread easily. You can catch this virus if you:
- Have close personal contact with someone who is infected
- Touch something that is infected with the herpes virus, such as infected razors, towels, dishes, and other shared items
Parents may spread the virus to their children during regular daily activities.
Back to TopSymptoms
Some people get mouth ulcers when they first come into contact with HSV-1 virus. Others have no symptoms. Most of the time, symptoms usually occur in children between 1 and 5 years old.
Symptoms may be mild or severe. They often appear within 1 to 3 weeks after you come into contact with the virus. They may last up to 3 weeks.
Warning symptoms include:
- Itching of the lips or skin around the mouth
- Burning near the lips or mouth area
- Tingling near the lips or mouth area
Before blisters appear, you may have:
- Sore throat
- Swollen glands
- Painful swallowing
Blisters or a rash may form on your:
Many blisters are called an "outbreak." You may have:
- Red blisters that break open and leak
- Small blisters filled with clear yellowish fluid
- Several smaller blisters that grow together into a large blister
- A blister that gets yellow and crusty as it heals, eventually turning into pink skin
Symptoms may be triggered by:
- Menstruation or hormone changes
- Being out in the sun
If the symptoms return later, they are often less severe.
Back to TopTreatment
Symptoms may go away on their own without treatment in 1 to 2 weeks.
Your health care provider can prescribe medicines to fight the virus. This is called antiviral medicine. It can help reduce pain and make your symptoms go away sooner. Medicines used to treat mouth sores include:
These medicines work best if you take them when you have warning signs of a mouth sore, before any blisters develop. If you get mouth sores frequently, you may need to take these medicines all the time.
Antiviral skin creams may also be used. However, they are expensive and often only shorten the outbreak by a few hours to a day.
The following steps can also help make you feel better:
- Apply ice or a warm washcloth to the sores to help ease pain.
- Wash the blister gently with germ-fighting (antiseptic) soap and water. This helps prevent spreading the virus to other body areas.
- Avoid hot beverages, spicy and salty foods, and citrus.
- Gargle with cool water or eat popsicles.
- Rinse with salt water.
- Take a pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol).
Back to TopPrevention
Here are some tips to prevent mouth sores:
- Apply sunblock or lip balm containing zinc oxide to your lips before you go outside.
- Apply a moisturizing balm to prevent the lips from becoming too dry.
- Avoid direct contact with herpes sores.
- Wash items such as towels and linens in boiling hot water after each use.
- Do not share utensils, straws, glasses, or other items if someone has oral herpes.
Do not have oral sex if you have oral herpes, especially if you have blisters. You can spread the virus to the genitals. Both oral and genital herpes viruses can sometimes be spread even when you do not have mouth sores or blisters.
Back to TopReferences
Habif TP. Warts, herpes simplex, and other viral infections. In: Habif TP, ed. Clinical Dermatology . 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Mosby; 2009:chap 12.
Whitley RJ. Herpes simplex virus infections. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine . 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2011:chap 382.
MOST POPULAR - HEALTH
- Well: Older Athletes Have a Strikingly Young Fitness Age
- The New Old Age: More Caregivers Are No Spring Chickens Themselves
- Well: With Summer Sun Come Signs of Danger
- Mending Hearts: A Sea Change in Treating Heart Attacks
- Mending Hearts: Blood Pressure, the Mystery Number
- Well: Sugary Drinks Take a Deathly Toll
- Well: Guinea Pigs Are Autistic Child’s Best Friend
- The New Old Age: At Home, Many Seniors Are Imprisoned by Their Independence
- Well: Ask Well: Assessing Knee Supports
- Well: The Right Dose of Exercise for a Longer Life