Why Do I Get Cold Sores
Why do I get cold sores? This was the very same question I asked myself the first time I got cold sore attack a couple of years back. Now, its the same one I need to answer my grandkid who just had her first attack.
Cold sores or fever blisters are caused by the herpes simplex 1 virus which at first got me beyond control as I know then that herpes is the cause of sexual diseases which as a child is really impossible for me to have.
After quite sometime, I learned that the herpes simplex 2 virus is the one responsible for the sexually-transmitted disease and not the simplex 1 virus that gave me the painful cold sores around my lips. However, I also learned that cold sores are highly contagious and since my mom then got hers, this is the very reason why I also had mine.
Why do I get cold sores? My research on cold sores showed that herpes virus dont leave but stays in the nerve cells of our body and remain dormant until such time it becomes active due to some triggers. A persons strong immune system may control the activity of the virus but once exposed to triggers, the weakened immune system may let the virus to get active and affect the outer layer of the skin in the form of cold sores.
When my immune system weakens as a result of mental or physical stress, cold weather, exposure to sunlight or sunburn, fatigue, fever, ailments such as stomach flu and other infections and irritation on my lips resulting from a dental procedure or even bumps, I always notice the appearance of painful cold sores. Likewise, attacks are most common when I have my menstrual periods that I conclude that women are more prone to the disease.
These triggers cause the virus to multiply and spread down the nerve cell and come out in the form of cold sores on lips, inside the mouth and even around the nose and face. I become so worried once I experience tingling, burning or numbness sensation on the part of my lips and face for I know it will be followed with subsequent appearance of painful and irritating fever blisters.
Since it is highly contagious, direct contact with a person who got cold sore blisters may infect another person; or even other parts of the body of the affected individual. Thus, if one has the attack, proper hygiene should be observed so as not to spread the virus and contaminate other people or other parts of the body.
Why do I get cold sores: Symptoms and Complications
The unusual burning, tingling, numbness or pain felt on the parts of the face and mouth may signal the eventual appearance of cold sores. These warning signs that the skin will eventually turn red and fever blisters will appear are referred to as prodrome by medical practitioners.
Why do I get cold sores, what bad effects may these give me? The problem-laden cold sores in the mouth interfere with eating and talking. The eye, nose and other parts may likewise be affected if touched with an infected hand. Rare cases were also noted when cold sores get into the human brain and caused encephalitis or viral meningitis which become the worst effect of cold sore infection.