Health
Cold Sore Symptoms and Diagnosis
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The symptoms of a cold sore vary depending on whether it’s your first outbreak or a recurrent outbreak.
A cold sore causes tiny clusters of fluid-filled blisters on or around the lip or mouth. Unlike canker sores, cold sores don’t usually develop inside the mouth. But a first-time infection with HSV can produce a condition called acute herpetic gingivostomatitis, which is a painful eruption that causes swollen red gums, a fever, enlarged lymph nodes, and numerous sores on the tongue, lips, and inner cheeks, says Allison Arthur, MD, a dermatologist at Sand Lake Dermatology Center in Orlando, Florida.
Many people who have cold sores were exposed to HSV-1 during childhood, most likely after being kissed by someone who had the virus. Cold sore symptoms tend to be worse during the primary or first outbreak, with some people experiencing milder symptoms with recurrent outbreaks.
Other symptoms may occur if you’re newly infected, too:
- Sore throat
- Body aches
- Headache
- Nausea
- Pain with swallowing
Cold sores start with an itchy or tingling sensation in the spot of development. This can last for one or two days, with a cold sore developing shortly thereafter. Other symptoms include redness, pain, or swelling at the spot of the sore.
After a few days, cold sores rupture and ooze pus-like fluid. A scab forms over the sore in its final stages. Cold sores heal in about one to two weeks without treatment, but they can heal sooner with treatment.
While cold sores often occur on or around the lips, they can also develop around the nose, cheek, and genital area. This can happen if you touch a cold sore and then touch another part of your body without washing your hands or if you engage in oral sex with someone who has a cold sore.
The virus can also spread to your eyes and cause a serious eye infection. So it’s important that you don’t touch your eyes if you have a cold sore.
Signs that the virus might have spread to your eyes include sensitivity to light, pain, swelling, irritation, or eyes that feel runny or gritty.
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