Herpes simplex 1 is a type of herpes virus that typically causes oral herpes or cold sores. The virus stays on the nerve cells adjacent to the ears. Because of this, symptoms of herpes simplex 1 infection occur on the lips, mouth and face.
Many people believe that having herpes simplex 1 infection means milder disease than herpes simplex type 2, the one that cause genital herpes. It is milder in the sense that there is lesser social stigma because genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease, whereas oral herpes can develop in children. However, both herpes cause the same extent of damage in the sensory neurons so these should not be viewed as one being less serious. In addition, once oral herpes develop in adults, it is mistaken that the individual too has genital herpes, which is not the case in most of the patients but herpes simplex 1 can also cause genital herpes in cases of oral-genital contact. People should distinctly differentiate herpes 1 from that of herpes 2.
The Herpes Simplex 1 - Oral Herpes Condition
The manifestation and symptoms of herpes simplex 1
- Itching at the sides of the lips as initial sign of infection
- Open blisters on the lips, mouth, throat and esophagus
- Burning, tingling and numbing of the site of lesions
- Pain in the lesions
- Fever
- Lymphadenopathy in the neck (enlargement of lymph nodes in the neck)
- Headache, Muscle ache
- Dysphagia or painful swallowing
Herpes simplex 1 is transmitted through direct contact with the infected lesion, saliva or body fluids in the form of kissing, licking, sharing utensils with the infected person or using personal items such as toothbrush. Some individuals do not show active lesions but have the ability to still transmit the virus. The blisters appear 2 to 20 days after exposure to an infected person and the blisters normally heal in the same number of days.
Oral herpes or cold sores are sometimes referred to as fever blisters because of their appearance as reddish, swollen and sore plus they occur simultaneously with fever. People believe that the blisters are a result of having a high temperature where the body eliminates the heat through the skin openings. But this is a wrong notion because as we all know; the fever that accompanies the blisters is just a sign of an ongoing infection.
What should you do when you got infected with herpes simplex 1?
Management for the blisters in herpes simplex 1 is the same with that of herpes simplex 2– they just differ in location. These are easy, simple steps to undertake to hasten the healing if the sore and reduce itching or pain:
- Apply cold compress over the lesions outside the mouth. This helps to reduce inflammation and pain.
- Administer analgesics to relieve moderate to severe pain.
- Contact a medical professional for antiviral creams (acyclovir) and pills. These do not eradicate the disease itself because herpes simplex 1 stays on the nerves for life. Antiviral treatments only help in lessening the sick days or hastening the healing if the lesions.
Aside from management, preventing herpes simplex 1 spread should be instituted such as appropriate isolation precautions (non-sharing of eating utensils, avoid kissing, licking and having contact with the person’s body fluids especially saliva.
