Oral Herpes – An Overview of Mouth Herpes, Its Transmission, Treatment and Prevention

Oral herpes, sometimes referred to as mouth herpes, is caused by the herpes simplex virus. The medical name for the virus is herpes labialis, and it is the cause of cold sores and fever blisters around the lips, gums, roof of the mouth, cheeks and tongue. Mouth sores most commonly occur in children between the ages of 1-2 years, but they can affect anyone due to the virus’s high contagiousness and it has been estimated that 90% of the US populated has contracted herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1) at some stage during their lives.

Transmission

The transmission of oral herpes is caused by touching infected saliva, mucous membranes, or skin. Research shows that an unaffected person has around a 75% chance of contraction when exposed to a person carrying the virus. Once infected, the virus progresses in 3 main stages.

• The primary infection of the virus results in facial lesions on the lips mouth and gums which can last 7-10 days. There can also be flu-like symptoms including fever, headache and swollen glands. However, the virus is also asymptomatic, meaning that symptoms will not always develop, even though the person is infected.
• After the lesions have subsided, the virus becomes latent and moves to an area of nerve tissue in your spine called the dorsal root ganglion.
• The virus remains inactive until certain conditions lead to recurrence. These can include menstruation, U.V exposure, stress or fatigue.

Treatment

If left untreated, the symptoms of mouth herpes will normally disappear within 1-2 weeks. There are also a number of antiviral medications available in ointment, pill, liquid, and intravenous form that alleviate the sores and reduce the frequency of recurrence. Zovirax can be extremely effective in cold sore treatment. Also, washing blisters in antiseptic soap and water can minimize the spread of infection. Applying ice to the affected area can numb the pain of the lesions.

Prevention

Contamination from the virus can be prevented by taking a few basic precautions. Never allow direct contact with cold sores or any other infected area. Never share towels, razors, dishes or cutlery and always wash items in hot, preferably boiling water. Avoid direct exposure to sunlight to help prevent recurrence. Avoid oral sex if you are suffering from mouth herpes since it can cause genital herpes through transmission, even though HSV-1 only accounts for 5-10% of cases.