How Do Cold Sores Spread?Ĭold sores are highly contagious. Beyond the uncomfortable sores that the virus can cause, HSV is usually harmless. Most people are first exposed to HSV between ages 1 and 5 years of age, and more than half of people in the United States are infected with it by the time they become adults. Genital herpes is usually caused by a different strain, herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), although both virus strains can cause sores in any part of the body. In children, cold sores are usually caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). After a few days, the blisters usually begin to ooze, then form a crust and heal completely in one to two weeks.ĭespite their name, cold sores actually have nothing to do with colds. They sometimes appear on the chin, cheeks, and nose, too. What are Cold Sores?Ĭold sores (also called fever blisters or oral herpes) start as small blisters that form around the lips and mouth. Often by around age 5, however, a less-than-fun first also may pop up: a child's first cold sore. A child's toddler and preschool-age years are filled with new experiences, like a first playdate or first tricycle.
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