sore, cold

sore, cold,

n See herpes labialis.

---

Patient discussion about sore, cold.

Q. Are cold sores contagious? My boyfriend has cold sores on his mouth. Can I catch it from him? If so, how can I prevent catching it?

A. The virus that causes cold sores is known as the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two types of HSV, type I and type II. Cold sores are usually caused by type I. Herpes simplex infections are contagious. You can catch the virus by kissing your boyfriend or having other close contact with his sores or even from having contact with other parts of his skin that appear normal but are in fact shedding the virus. People are most contagious when they have active blister-like sores. Once the blisters have dried and crusted over (within a few days), the risk of contagion is significantly lessened. Therefore, it is best that you don't come in physical contact while he has the cold sores, since he is contagious. However, a person infected with HSV can pass it on to another person even when a cold sore is not present. This is because the virus is sometimes shed in saliva even when sores are not present.

Q. i just got over a cold sore using abreva is this best remedy to use? i didnt get a cold sore for while but i think problems lately have caused them to appear?

A. Yes, Abreva is a good choice for a cold sore. It usually helps with the itching and dryness. Next time, you should apply an acyclovir cream (Zovirax) straight from the beginning - when you get that itching or tingling even before the cold sore appears. It will make it go away faster.