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Causes Cold Sores Article
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Are Cold Sores Contagious?
from:When someone gets a cold sore or knows someone who has one, it
is not uncommon for them to wonder, “Are cold sores contagious?”
And the answer to this question is yes, cold sores are
contagious in more ways than one. The herpes simplex virus that
usually causes cold sores is easily spread--even if the infected
person does not have an active cold sore.
Cold sores are contagious, and the HSV-1 virus that causes cold
sores is present in an estimated 80% of the population. Most
people are infected by HSV-1 at an early age, usually by the
time they are five years old. Once the virus infects an
individual, it will remain in that person’s body forever. Though
HSV-1 is latent or dormant for much of the time, it is still
present in the body. The virus is usually present near the
person’s mouth, but it can spread all over the body. It is
important to understand that an infected person can spread HSV-1
to others even while not currently experiencing an outbreak.
One of the most common ways that HSV-1 is spread is through an
object an infected person used, like a toothbrush or tube of lip
balm. If particles of the HSV-1 virus are transferred to an
object and it is used by someone else, that person runs a strong
risk of infection.
People are most likely to become infected by HSV-1 by exposure
to someone with a cold sore. A cold sore goes through several
phases before it disappears. The tingle stage is the first. At
this point, the cold sore has not yet formed, but the virus has
been reactivated. The risk of spreading the virus increases at
this time, but the risk is highest when the sore is in the
weeping stage. This is when the sore bursts open and expels a
clear liquid. Even during the crusting stage, when the sore is
scabbed over, the risk of infection is greater than normal.
It is important to note that HSV-1 can not only spread between
people, but also to different parts of the infected person’s
body. Herpetic whitlow, the HSV-1 infection of the fingers is
particularly painful. People must be sure to wash their hands
thoroughly when they have a cold sore to prevent the spread of
HSV-1.
About the author:
Cold Sores Info
provides detailed information about the cause of cold sores, as
well as treatment, home remedies, curious, and answers to
frequently-asked questions, such as “Are cold sores contagious?”
Cold Sores Info is affiliated with
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