Cold sores are painful blisters that form around the mouth, break open, crust over and fade away. The condition is common in children and, unfortunately, the pathogen that causes the sores stays in your body forever. That means the lesions, which are also known as fever blisters, can come back intermittently.
Cause
Cold sores stem from infection with a herpes simplex virus, most often type 1. Herpes simplex type 2, which is more closely associated with genital herpes, can also cause cold sores in adults and children. Cold sores are contagious, and children can pick up the virus easily when kissed by well-meaning relatives. Children can also spread the virus amongst each other by rubbing cold sores and then touching their playmates.
Time Frame
People who get cold sores usually contracted herpes type 1 before age 10, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Chances are, neither they nor their parents know they have acquired it, because no symptoms appear during the initial infection. In the 15 percent who do show symptoms, fluid-filled blisters form in the mouth area three to five days after infection, and the child may develop a fever and swollen neck glands. Within two weeks, the lesions heal, leaving no scars. Recurrent episodes, if they occur, tend to be milder and resolve in eight to 10 days.
Risks
While usually not a dangerous condition, cold sores can lead to severe problems on occasion. This is especially true in infants. The herpes simplex can not only cause a severe breakout on the face, including the eyes, but also spread throughout the central nervous system and to organs, including the liver and the lungs, according to Keep Kids Healthy, a medical-information site operated by Dr. Vincent Iannelli. Such infections can be life-threatening and should be treated as soon as possible.
Treatment
Mild cases of cold sores do not necessarily have to be treated, because the lesions go away on their own. For more severe infections doctors can prescribe antiviral medication, particularly acyclovir, according to Keep Kids Healthy. In the case of systemic infection in an infant, treatment typically is intravenous, high dose acyclovir for 14 to 21 days.
Misconceptions
Some people confuse cold sores with another common condition called canker sores or aphthous ulcers. While both produce painful red sores, they differ in that while cold sores tend to be on the outside of the mouth, canker sores form on the inside, on the cheeks, the base of the gums or under the tongue, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Canker sores do not result from herpes. Scientists do not know the exact cause, but some cases may stem from food allergies.
