Cold Sores
Also called: Fever Blisters
Overview
What Are Cold Sores?
Cold sores are small painful blisters that can form on or near the lips or nose. They’re common and usually go away on their own in 1–2 weeks.
Top Things to Know
- Cold sores are small, painful blisters that usually form on or around the lips and nose. They are common in kids and are caused by a virus.
- Kids with cold sores may feel tingling before blisters appear or have pain when eating, and they may also have a fever, swollen gums, or swollen neck glands.
- Cold sores usually heal on their own, but pain-relief medicines and cold compresses can help them be less painful.
- Cold sores can come back because the virus stays in the body.
Signs & Symptoms
What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Cold Sores?
Kids may have tingling and numbness around their mouth before fluid-filled blisters form. When the blisters break, they become sores, which can make eating painful. The sores crust over and form a scab before they go away.
Cold sores also can cause red and swollen gums, a fever, muscle aches, a generally ill feeling, and swollen neck glands.
When Should I Call the Doctor?
Call the doctor if your child:
- is younger than 6 months old and gets a cold sore
- has a weak immune system, which could let the infection spread and cause problems in other parts of the body
- has sores that don't start healing in 7–10 days
- has any sores near the eyes or eye pain or redness
- gets cold sores a lot
- has symptoms of a bacterial infection, like fever, pus, or redness that spreads
- has other symptoms, like a headache or confusion
Causes & Prevention
What Causes Cold Sores?
The herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) causes cold sores. It's contagious and spreads easily from one person to another. This isn't the same virus as HSV type 2 (HSV-2), which causes sores in the genital area (genital herpes). But even though HSV-1 typically causes sores around the mouth and HSV-2 causes most genital sores, both viruses can cause sores in either body area.
After a child has had cold sores, the virus can quietly stay in the body for a long time without causing symptoms. Later, symptoms can happen again because of things like:
How Do Kids Get Cold Sores?
Kids can get HSV-1 by kissing or touching someone with cold sores or by sharing eating utensils (like forks, spoons, and chopsticks), towels, or other items with a person who has the virus. Many people with HSV-1 got it as kids during their preschool years (ages 3–5).
Can Cold Sores Be Prevented?
The HSV-1 virus is very contagious. To help prevent it from spreading, kids with a cold sore should:
- Keep their drinking glasses, eating utensils, washcloths, and towels away from those used by other family members. These items should be washed well after use.
- Not kiss others until the sores heal.
- Avoid touching the cold sore.
- Wash their hands well and often.
To help prevent another cold sore, kids should:
- Try to get enough sleep and eat well.
- Try to manage stress, get lots of physical activity, and take time to relax.
- Always wear sunscreen outdoors, particularly on the face, and use a lip balm with SPF.
Treatment & Care
How Are Cold Sores Treated?
Cold sores usually go away in about 1–2 weeks. No medicines can kill the virus. But some treatments can help make cold sores less painful and not last as long.
To ease pain, your child can hold a cold compress (a clean, cold, wet cloth) to their mouth. To make meals more comfortable, serve cool foods and drinks.
You can also give pain medicine like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Don't give aspirin to kids with cold sores or other viral infections because it's linked to a rare but serious illness called Reye syndrome. Your doctor may recommend other medicine to help cold sores feel better and go away.
When your child has a cold sore, they should avoid touching it and be careful not to touch their eyes. If HSV-1 gets into the eyes, it can be very serious.