Is It Possible I Have A Disease Like Herpes?!?!?

Question

okay well...here's what happened....im 15 and i was at a concert...i was thirsty and couldn't move while i was on the floor so my friend offered a random guys waterbottle. i drank from it without any thought of what could be on it.....the next day i got a cold sore in my mouth....and now about a month and a half later i have like 3 small white spots on my cheek....is this something serious?!? and if not does anyone know what they could be? i have braces so i don't know if it could be just irritation from that.

the white spots are on the inside of my cheek***

Answer 1

Herpes does causes cold sores but its not the only thing.

They could also be opened scars, irritation, a random growth or a bacterial infection, like a zit inside your mouth. Take a photo of the area. If the disappears and then reappears later in the exact area it might be Herpes.

Since you caught it early they can simply freeze the area and fix the problem. The photos are important for diagnoses and will save you having the doc sending you home with a camera.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

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Answer 4

I got clinically diagnosed with herpes (type 2) about four years ago, whilst I was still attending college and had a foolish one-night stand. I realize a lot of people say this, but I swear I had never done that sort of thing before. I just made a mistake that one time and all of a sudden I felt like I was going to have to live with the implications for my entire life. The worst part was feeling I could never date other men again. In the end, who wants to go out with someone who has sores round her "you know what" area? But since a friend shared this movie https://tr.im/5n0bu everything improved.

Not only was I able to eliminate all traces of the herpes virus from my body in less than three weeks, but I was also able to begin dating again. I even met the guy of my dreams and I'm so lucky to write that just last week, in front of everybody in a busy restaurant, he got down on one knee and proposed to me!! This method provided me the chance to be happy and experience true love again. Now I want to help others too by sharing this story.

Answer 5

Yes it is possible to get herpes in your eye, a few years back when I was in a health class my teacher showed the whole class pictures of herpes in your eye! & trust me, that is not a good sight.

Answer 6

Herpes cold sores arent found inside the mouth, they are found around the lips. If your symptoms continue or get worse you should see your doctor

Answer 7

well, it says usually skin to skin contact and the usual incubation period of the virus (time before any symptoms show) is approximately two to twelve days after the first exposure to the virus. so, i guess it is possible. from what i have heard they are very painful.

Cold Sores (mouth herpes)

Cold sores are also commonly known as fever blisters, oral herpes or herpes labialis. They are lesions that occur on the mouth, lip and facial area and are caused by the Herpes simplex virus
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Question:

My two children, 24 mos. & 4 yrs., have had high fevers for the past three days. White spots have appeared on their tongues and throats. What are these? They are very painful and my kids will hardly drink or eat. Is there anything I can give them food or drink wise to help ease their pain.

Their pediatrician said it was a viral infection and there is nothing we can really do, but wait. He just said give them motrin and tylenol, but it doesn`t seem to help with the pain. They just look so miserable and weak. Any suggestions?

Answer:

This could very well be a viral infection. While we have no specific treatment for most viruses, there are very good medications for herpes virus infections. Herpes type I (this is not genital herpes, which is type II) is very common in children, but the diagnosis must be confirmed and the medication given within three days after the mouth sores have appeared. An oral pathologist could do a scraping of the sores and look at the cells microscopically for signs of viral infection if the sores have been present for fewer than three days.

If it has been longer than three days, then the viral changes will be gone, and anti-viral medication probably won't help much. Regardless of what we do, viral infections typically will get better, but it may take 7-14 days. In the meantime, make certain that the children get enough fluids - dehydration can develop quickly in children.

One of the best ways to make their mouths feel comfortable and get fluids in them is to give them Popsicles or other liquid frozen treats. Monitor their condition carefully and return to the pediatrician if the children seem to be doing worse.
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Oral herpes, also called herpes labialis or cold sores, is caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). This virus causes small and painful blisters on the lips, gums, or skin around the mouth. Oral herpes itself (as opposed to genital herpes) is not a sexually transmitted infection (STI); it can be passed on through contact with an infected individual's saliva, such as through kissing or sharing eating utensils. This is not to say that HSV-1 can never be transmitted sexually. HSV-1 can be passed from the mouth to the genitals during oral sex (or vice-versa in more rare cases).

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Answers to Questions about Cold Sores:

Are cold sores really "herpes"?

Yes. cold sores are caused by a type of the herpes virus, but, it is rarely the same virus strand that causes genital herpes.

Cold sores are typically caused by Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1).

Genital herpes on the other hand is usually caused by a different strand of the virus called Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2).

However, it is possible to transfer the different viruses to other areas of the body. HSV1 (or cold sores) can be transferred to the genitals through oral sex. In the same way, HSV2 (or genital herpes) can be transferred to the mouth.

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How common are cold sores?

Cold sores are very common. It is estimated that 80% percent of the American population have been exposed to the Herpes simplex virus (which is the virus that causes cold sores).

An interesting fact is that although a person has been infected with the herpes and cold sore virus, they may not necessarily experience an outbreak. This is because some people's immune systems have the ability to completely suppress the virus.

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Where do cold sores usually appear?

Cold sores are usually confined to the mouth area (particularly on and around the lip).

Less commonly, cold sores can occur on other facial areas such as above the mouth, the nose, nostrils, cheek or chin.

Cold sores can also appear on the fingers, this is referred to as 'Herpes Whitlow'.

Cold sores do not usually occur inside the mouth, however if they do, it is most likely on the gums or hard palette (roof of the mouth).

If the lesion appears inside the mouth, especially on the soft tissue, it is most likely to be a canker sore, not a cold sore.

When cold sores reoccur they will typically appear in the same location that they did during previous outbreaks.

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What is the difference between Canker sores and Cold sores?

Cold sores or fever blisters are caused by the herpes simplex virus and are usually relatively easy to identify. To view pictures of the herpes virus (including cold sores and mouth herpes) visit our Herpes Pictures page.

There is another condition which causes ulcers inside the mouth known as Canker sores which are not a form of herpes, however, they are often confused and mistaken for cold sores.

Canker sores are ulcerations, especially of the lip or oral mucosa and can be caused by acute stress, trauma to the area in your mouth, allergies, or by a reaction to a particular bacteria.

Canker sores are not considered to be contagious. Cold sores and mouth herpes on the other hand are caused by the herpes simplex virus and can be very contagious.

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How do you get cold sores?

Cold sores are generally contracted from skin to skin contact with an infected area.

For example, if someone has a cold sore on their lip they can pass on the virus to another person's mouth through kissing.

The usual incubation period of the virus (time before any symptoms show) is approximately two to twelve days after the first exposure to the virus.

As most people contract cold sores before the age of seven, it is common for a person not to remember their first or 'primary' cold sore outbreak.

Once infected with cold sores, the virus remains inside the body in a latent (sleeping) state. Throughout a person's life the virus can then become "activated" causing a cold sore recurrence.

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What causes or "activates" a cold sore recurrence?

There are many factors that can influence or "trigger" a cold sore outbreak, however, it seems to be related to times when the immune system is lowered or run down.

Cold sore outbreaks can sometimes be triggered by the following:

Being run-down
Menstruation Cycle
Pregnancy
Drinking a lot of alcohol
Exposure of the area to strong sunlight
Conditions that compromise a person's immune system (where the body's immune system is not functioning normally)
Prolonged periods of stress
Fatigue
Ultraviolet light
Skin irritation (such as sunburn)
Diet and certain foods
Another illness (especially with fever)
Temperature extremes
Steroid medication (e.g., asthma medication)
Anything that lowers your immune system or causes local injury can trigger recurrences.
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What are some of the symptoms of a cold sore?

Before a cold sore appears the area will sometimes tingle, feel slightly raised and may appear red and inflamed.

This pain or tingling sensation is called the prodrome (or warning symptom) and typically occurs 1 to 2 days before the cold sore appears.

A cold sore generally appears as a small, fluid-filled blister which goes through a cycle of phases. The blister will usually weep (ulcerate) and form a scab or 'crusting' before healing and disappearing completely.

The duration of a typical cold sore outbreak may last from 8 to 12 days.

Stages of a typical herpes outbreak.

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Are cold sores contagious?

Yes. Cold sores are caused by the Herpes simplex virus and, if the virus particles are transferred to another person they too can become infected.

Cold sores are typically spread by direct skin-to-skin contact with the virus. Kissing or rubbing against the infected area are common examples of how the virus particles can be transferred. See below for more information.

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How is the cold sore virus spread?

If a person has an active cold sore on their lip the virus particles can be transferred to any part of the body that they kiss, including the mouth, face or the genitals.

Keeping this in mind, it is very important to avoid kissing and oral sex during an active bout of cold sores.

It should also be made aware that the virus is considered to be contagious from the very first sign of an outbreak (including the tingling, itching stage) until the area is completely healed again.

It is important to take precautions during an active cold sore outbreak to prevent the virus from spreading. Treatments such as Choraphor and Zovirax can help to shorten the duration of the outbreak dramatically.

Herpes and cold sores are most easily spread when a sore is present, but, the virus can also be spread at other times too. Some people notice itching, tingling or other sensations before they see anything on their skin.

These are called "Prodromal Symptoms" and they warn that the virus may be present on the skin. Herpes is most likely to be spread from the time these first symptoms are noticed until the area is completely healed and the skin looks normal again.

Contact with the infected area (including oral sex, kissing and touch) is very risky during this time.

It is also possible to transmit virus particles to another person through intermediate objects such as a drinking glass, eating utensil, lip stick, lip gloss, toothbrush, or even a face cloth.

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Can cold sores be transferred to another area of the body?

One kind of complication involves spreading the virus particles from the location of an outbreak to other places on the body by touching the infection. The fingers, eyes, and other body areas can accidentally become infected in this way.

Preventing self-infection is simple. Do not touch the area during an outbreak. If you do, wash your hands as soon as possible with soap and warm water. This will help prevent the virus from spreading further.

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When are cold sores most contagious?

Cold sores are considered to be most contagious when the blisters have burst open and have begun to weep fluid. This is because the liquid held in these blisters contains literally millions of herpes simplex virus particles.

During an outbreak, the population of virus particles becomes less and less as the cold sore runs its course. There is a much smaller amount of virus particles present when the sore is healing and when the scab has formed.

However, as there are still virus particles present throughout every phase of the cold sore outbreak the infected area is still considered to be contagious until the skin has completely healed.

If you know that you have come into contact with the virus in the past few minutes or so (e.g. If you or your partner have just touched an infected area) the simple action of washing your hands and the infected area with soap and warm water can help to sweep away the virus from your hands and other areas. By doing this you can help avoid the virus from spreading further.

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What is the best treatment for cold sores?

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In the meantime, below are some home remedies that can temporarily help to relieve the symptoms:

Ice can be applied to the sores to both numb and soothe the area, as well as lower the temperature of the infection, helping to inhibit the virus.
Cold tea bags applied to the infected area every hour may be beneficial. This is because tea bags contain tannic acid which is thought to have antiviral properties, best used at the first sign of an outbreak.
Petroleum jelly and other lip moisturizers can soothe and moisten the lips, helping to prevent the cold sore scabs from cracking and bleeding.
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What can I do to prevent cold sores?

To help minimize cold sore outbreaks, try the following steps:

1. Be Sun Smart

Exposure to sunlight and ultraviolet rays can trigger a breakout of cold sores. To help protect yourself wear a hat when you are outside in the sun and use a lip balm that contains sunscreen (preferably one with an SPF rating of 15+ or higher).

2. Moisturize

Damage to your lips can bring on an episode of cold sores, so it is important to keep your lips protected from chapping and wind burn. A moisturizing lip balm can help here.

3. Choose an Effective Treatment

The right management of your cold sores can make a huge difference. An effective cold sore treatment should shorten the duration of your outbreaks, as well reduce the possibility of a recurrence. Visit the Treatment Options page to read through different products available for cold sore..

4. Healthy Living

By taking better care of yourself you can help your body defend against the virus, reducing the possibility of an occurrence. Good rest, exercise and fresh fruit and vegetable juices will assist in strengthening the immune system (your body's natural defense system against viruses, such as herpes).