what are some causes of cold sores?

Question

i know its a form of herpes, but i havnt done much that could have infected me. Could i get it from sharing drinks? and is it contagious?

Answer 1

Yep it's herpes. It is highly contagious and can be spread through sharing drinks or food, kissing, and any contact with the virus through a mucous membrane. That means you can catch it like you catch the common cold, except the herpes virus is not spread through the air. If you got the virus on your hand from shaking the hand of someone that touched a sore or had the virus on their hands and rubbed your eye or picked your nose then you will be infected. It can't break your skin as far as I know and it would have to come in contact with a mucous membrane to penetrate your body. Washing your hands regularly and not touching your eyes and nose is a safe bet to keep from catching several viruses including herpes and the common cold.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

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Answer 4

Yes, in fact it is herpes, only it isn't the herpes we might think of when we hear "herpes." This one is similar, but different. It's herpes simplex 1, and it's so contagious that 90% of us will have been exposed to it by the time we're adults. It's communicated by sharing drinks, by kissing, by an exposed person sneezing in your direction, by the transfer of saliva by any means. It doesn't do much to you except cause "cold sores," which interestingly are also called "fever blisters," and actually have nothing to do with either fevers or colds.

I wouldn't worry about this really.

Answer 5

Just so that we are all straight on this and no one is reading this gathering inaccurate or incomplete information, I wanted to say that, as the others have previously mentioned...cold sores are caused solely by Herpes and yes there are several variants to Herpes. It is a virus that stores itself in your spine while inactive but that comes forth down your nerve tracks to the outter epidermal surface for breakouts periodically due to a number or reasons including high levels of stress, illness (immune difficiency), improper dietary levels (peanuts and orange juice carry an acid component that has been shown to promote herpes breakouts), etc. The important thing to know is that this is a virus that you CAN spread to your lower hemisphere (ie. genital herpes) All variants of the herpes virus attach to the spine in the same manner and cause the same 'breakouts'. The key to whether you get genital herpes or 'cold sores' is simply dependent upon the area of initial infection (either the mouth or the genitalia). Just so you know, because you have 'cold sores', you are completely capable of giving genital herpes to yourself or to another person (if engaged in oral sex while having a 'break out'). The virus does not affect the entire body upon infection, only whatever hemisphere of the spine to which it initially attaches...either the upper or lower body. take care

Answer 6

Sometimes people get them when they are nervous. Sometimes your going through puberty and you get one and then it never happens again. I would pour ten percent hydrogen peroxide on it. You can buy it at the drug store. Get the kind that is OK to gargle. Pour it on the cold sore then apply pure aloe vera gel on it.
If that doesn't work try iodine with can be bought at the drug store too. After wards apply the aloe vera. I am not a doctor but that is what I would do.
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Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two types of herpes simplex virus (HSV). HSV-1 usually leads to lip and mouth sores (herpes labialis), while HSV-2 most often leads to genital herpes. However, both virus types can cause cold sores or genital herpes if skin comes into contact with either type.

Cold sores will usually go away on their own within a few days. However, if they are severe or cause you embarrassment or discomfort, cold sores can be treated. Treatment may include topical creams or ointments or sometimes antiviral medicines (such as acyclovir or famciclovir). Treatment may lessen the duration of the cold sores by only 1 to 2 days, but can help soothe painful blisters or other uncomfortable symptoms.

The herpes simplex virus (HSV) that causes cold sores cannot be cured. If sores develop regularly, treatment can reduce the number and severity of outbreaks.

The herpes simplex virus (HSV) usually enters your body through a break in the skin around or inside your mouth. It is spread through coughing, sneezing, direct contact with a cold sore, or touching contaminated fluid—such as from kissing an infected person and touching their saliva.

The virus can also be spread from one person to an area of someone else's body by touching an active cold sore or sharing things that a person who has a cold sore has used. A parent who has a cold sore often spreads the infection to his or her child.

Frequently Asked Questions

Learning about cold sores:
What are cold sores?
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What are the symptoms of cold sores?
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Being diagnosed:
How are cold sores diagnosed?
What is a herpes test?

Getting treatment:
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Living with cold sores:
What can I do at home to relieve symptoms of cold sores?

Answer 7

Yes it is contagious once you have had a cold sore you will always carry the virus it lays dormant until you are stressed too much sun, wind.