Cold Sores
Symptoms:
Cold sores symptoms include blisters on your lip or mouth, mouth soreness, fever, sore throat, or swollen lymph glands. After the blister develops, cold sores usually break open, crust over and disappear after several days to a week.
Causes:
Cold sores are caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two types of the virus (HSV-1) and (HSV-2) and both can cause lip and mouth sores. The virus enters the body through a break in the skin around or inside your mouth. It spreads through coughing, sneezing, or direct contact with a cold sore, or saliva.
Self-Care:
- Apply topical creams or ointments
- Use heat or cold to the blister to ease pain
- Avoid squeezing, pinching or picking at any blisters
- If you have frequent or severe outbreaks, see your healthcare provider
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cold-sore/DS00358
http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/tc/Cold-Sores-Topic-Overview