On call: Herpes gladiatorum
On call
herpes simplex virusHSV type 1 is the main cause of cold sores, also known as fever blisters. People with HSV-1 infections shed the virus in their saliva, and it spreads to folks who come in contact with infected oral secretions. In some cases, the first exposure can cause severe oral pain, numerous blisters, fever, and swollen glands. Much more often, though, the infection is mild or even unapparent. Either way, the virus settles into an inactive or dormant state in nerve fibers, but fever or stress can activate it, producing a cold sore on the lips.
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