Causes for the Outbreak of Mouth Sores

Of course you know what a cold sore is, but how much time do you spend thinking about what causes it and how it can affect a person’s life?

For review, these conditions are lesions found on the face, usually on the lips or immediately around the mouth. A couple other names for it are fever blister and herpes. Because of the negative connotations associated with herpes, that term is much scarier and less used.

However, there is no getting around the fact that they are caused by the herpes simplex virus. There are two types of the virus. It is herpes simplex 1 or 2.

The problem with tracing the origin of a this outbreak is that the virus causing the problem is probably not a new invader in your body. When the herpes virus gets to the point of producing little bumps it has already been in your body for awhile. This condition is a sign that dormant herpes virus particles have reactivated.

Initial infection of the herpes virus usually causes fever, irritability, headache and pain associated with swallowing. Shortly after the infection the person’s mouth experiences pain and the gums become inflamed. Blisters usually appear within the first three days of the infection.

Compared to some of the other symptoms associated with this ailment, it is not much of a problem. However, some individuals experience emotional pain and extreme embarrassment because of them.