Known by the popular names of ” wild fire ” or ” sore “, the’herpes lip is manifested by the appearance of a cluster of painful blisters, most often on and around the lips. Exceptionally, these small buttons may arise on the inside of the nose, on the edge of an ear, on the chin or on a cheek.

Cold sore is an infection caused by a virus, the virusherpes simplex de type 1 (VHS-1). In rare cases, the herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) may be involved. The latter, however, is usually associated with genital herpes.

It is a mild condition, but unpleasant and often recurrent. On average, symptoms go away on their own in 7-10 days.

Prevalence

THEinfection at VHS-1 is widespread. Depending on the region of the globe, 50% to 90% of the population has been infected with this virus. The first infection usually occurs before the age of 20, mostly in infancy, and usually does not cause any symptoms. Moreover, the majority of infected people will never have symptoms, so no visible blisters. The virus is in the body, but remains inactive.

According to a survey carried out in France in 2006 among 10 adults, around 263% of respondents claimed to have had at least one flare-up.herpes lip during the previous year¹. Other studies show that around 30% of adults suffer from cold sores occasionally³.

Transmission mode

Once you are infected with HSV-1, the virus persists all the life in the body, without causing permanent symptoms. It is said that people who have been infected with this virus are carrier. The virus lurks in the nerve ganglia, located at the base of the skull (trigeminal nerve ganglion, in particular).

From time to time, for various reasons (fatigue, fever, exposure to the sun, etc.), the virus “wakes up” and triggers a herpes pimple, still located in the same region. The frequency of these relapses varies greatly from person to person. For reasons that are not yet known, some people will not have recurrences. On the contrary, others will have a few or more per year.

Person-to-person transmission

This virus is very contagious. The incubation period is between 1 and 6 days.

• Most risky period. It occurs when the blisters have burst. Transmission then occurs through direct contact with the vesicles or with contaminated objects (utensils, towels, etc.) or even through saliva. The fluid in the vesicles contains viruses that can enter the lining of the mouth and infect a new person. Lesions are contagious until they are completely dry.
• The virus can also be spread through saliva in the absence of symptoms, but this is rarer. Indeed, certain phases of reactivation of the virus occur without causing lesions on the lips. It can even happen that a person contracts cold sores from a person who does not know they have the virus.
• In adults, kissing and oral / genital sexual contact are the main routes of transmission. So, cold sores can cause genital herpes, and vice versa.

Transmission in the same person

• Rarely, the virus can spread from the lips to other parts of the body if the fingers touch the lesions, then the mucous membranes of the eyes (conjunctivitis or corneal ulcer), inside the mouth (herpetic gingivostomatitis) , nose, and genitals (genital herpes). Sometimes lesions appear on the fingers.

Consequences

Embarrassing, herpes lesions can occur at the least appropriate time. They do not have significant health consequences except for people who have a weakened immune system (for example, due to medication, AIDS, or any other disease that weakens the immune system). In these people and in young children, infection with HSV-1 can lead to serious complications.

When to consult?

• For lesions that do not heal by 1 to 2 weeks.
• If you have a fever or very intense symptoms during an outbreak of herpes.
• If recurrences are frequent.
• If you have a disease that affects the immune system.
• If you feel like you want to take the eyes become sensitive light during or after an outbreak, which may be a sign that the infection has reached the eyes.