A cold sore is an indication of the herpes virus. The same virus that causes cold sores also causes genital herpes. This virus can last for your life span, giving you flare-ups at different intervals. The herpes virus is perhaps one of man's most frequent infections. In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare's play, he explains cold sores in the following way:

O'er ladies' lips, who straight to kisses dream,

Which of the angry Mab with blisters plagues,

Because their breaths with sweetmeats tainted are. (Act 1 Scene 4)

Cold sores show up in the form of the blisters that Shakespeare described and the herpes simplex virus or HSV forms them. So what do you need to know about them? There are two kinds of cold sores:

* Type one herpes is what 80 percent of people experience which is also known as the common cold sores. Kissing close friends and family generally transfer them during a child's early years.

* HSV 2 affects are more often associated with genital herpes and effects from 5 to 20 percent of people.

Thirty percent of people infected generally have no symptoms at all making herpes very easy to catch and so common among illnesses. The illness is of cold sores is passes through secretions of the virus in their saliva. Many people are not aware that they have this virus, as it does not appear as a cold sore. They might experience a sore throat or sore mouth instead. In other cases, swollen glands and a high temperature might be the only symptoms.

Herpes is enormously transmittable and often appear as irritated red blisters on your mouth. A clear liquid often leaks from the sores when they rupture and eventually scab over. These blisters are particularly unsightly. Below are a number of proven methods for treating herpes:

* Increase your intake of vitamin C as this is often helpful and can aid in protecting against further outbreaks.

* Apply Vaseline, zinc or ice

* You can try using one of the many over the counter treatments on the market, some of which are quite useful.

The blisters may take a long time to fully heal and they usually last between ten days to two weeks. You should be cautious not to kiss people during this infectious period, as the virus is highly transmittable.

Finally, stay as healthy as you possibly can as this is your best defense against the virus. Take calcium supplements and extra vitamins to avoid flare-ups. Try to avoid foods that contain chocolate, which can make the problem worse as chocolate contains a substance called argenine that promotes the virus' growth. There is no cure for the herpes virus just avoidance. Sufferers must to do their best to stay healthy and avoid a flare-up of these horrible blisters.

Summary:

Cold sores are extremely transmittable, often appearing as irritated red blisters on the corner of your mouth. One of the top reasons why they occur so frequently is that they are easy to catch. They can also manifest themselves with swollen glands and a high temperature.