Fever Blisters

Introduction
Almost all of us have had, heard or seen someone with fever blisters. If you haven’t then you must definitely have had experienced cold sores. Well! The irony is that both are the different names of one disease some of us call it fever blisters while the rest, cold sores. Yes you are 100% right, it indeed is the same disease that commonly occurs on the lips causing small red blisters with a white centre to crop up on or around the affected area. Yes but let me tell you one thing, it is not only restricted to the lips, it might as well occur in the mouth, especially on the gums and roof of the mouth. So if you feel a blister kind of a thing in your mouth, don’t mistake it with something else. Everyone who has experienced this disease find it to be very painful. In fact pain is kind of a protocol to actual blisters, which appear after a few days. After appearance they rupture within hours and then crust. Keep in mind the blisters will not leave at least before 7-10 days. Once you are over with it the disease might pass on to you mom or any other family member, since it is contagious.

Alternative Names
As already mentioned, fever blisters are also known as cold sores.

Causes
The culprit is the herpes simplex virus Type 1 (HSV-1); I mean this is the virus that causes Fever Blisters. HSV-2 is as well considered to be one of the sources but it only causes a small percentage of fever blisters. Since the disease is contagious it is usually picked up as result of direct contact with someone with the virus, or drinking or eating in the utensils used by the patient. The virus might as well be picked up by someone who does not have a visible virus, but carries it in his/her saliva. Once the virus has entered your body it will remain there forever. And it is believed that most people suffering from this disease have had acquired the virus in their childhood.

Risk Factors
Children are usually more exposed to picking up the virus, but anyone who has caught it once in his/her life could develop the disease anytime.

Symptoms & Signs
A primary herpes infection is mostly not followed by any symptoms. But some patients, especially children, complain of the following signs

Deep red colored, swollen and sensitive gums.
Fever.
Flu like symptoms.
Painful sores or fluid filled blisters are usually found on or near the mouth or on fingers.

These herpes symptoms usually develop after 2 – 12 days of exposure to someone with HSV-1.

Diagnosis
Your doctor might choose any of the three following paths to diagnose the presence of disease in you.

Visual examination of the ulcer. This procedure is usually followed by one of the later two since it is impossible to tell the difference between type 1 and type 2 just by looking at it.
Viral cultures. Your doctor will grow your virus in the laboratory to reach the final conclusion.
The samples of your blood could be examined under the microscope.

Prevention
The following steps could be helpful in preventing the outbreak and spread of the disease:

Keep your hands away from the blisters, they should not be pinched, pricked or squeezed.
Avoid contact with the mucous membrane with anyone who has lesions.
It is said that children could be prevented from primary herpes by not allowing them to use the toys and eating utensils touched by other children’s mouth and by not allowing anyone to kiss them. But this technique is quite impossible, since you can’t keep a 24-hour watch on your child, thus most of the children catch HSV-1 by the time they have reached adulthood.
Carefully wash your hands before touching your eyes and genital area, or even of some other person.
Though it is not fully proved, but still using sunscreen on the lips is said to prevent sun induced eruption of cold sores and fever blisters.
Several different vaccines are being developed against HSV-1, but the problem is that theses will only protect people who have never been infected.

Treatment
If the disease is diagnosed at a very early stage, when the only symptom present is a tingling sensation on the lips, then acyclovir ointment works best in preventing a fully grown sore. However if the sore has grown fully then it can not be cured. At this stage icing and simple pain killers could be helpful in preventing the pain. Your pharmacist might even recommend you any local anesthetic cream.

Primary Natural Supplements
HERBS

Goldenseal
Echinacea

VITAMINS

Vitamin B Complex

MINERALS

Zinc

AMINO ACIDS

Lysine

Secondary Natural Supplements
HERBS

Pau d’ arco

VITAMINS

Vitamin C

Dietary Guidelines

Cold drinks should be avoided.
Diet plan should be made keeping in view that it should be rich in vitamins and not in fats.
Plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits are helpful in building up the immune system.

Home Care Suggestions

Keep away from foods rich in salts.
Seeking therapy could be beneficial in reducing the pain which is a part and parcel of these blisters.

Mind/Body Considerations
Take full rest and concentrate on activities that would help in diverting the mind away from the disease. This way you would feel the pain less.

Products

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Cold Sores/Fever Blisters 100 Tabs $6.63	Echinacea Extract 575 MG, 90 Tabs $17.12	Echinacea Extract 42 Tabs $8.93

Echinacea Glycerite Lemongrass 4 Fl Oz $17.12	Echinacea Glycerite Lemongrass 1 Fl Oz $5.36	Echinacea Glycerite Lemongrass 2 Fl Oz $9.64

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Echinacea Glycerite Peppermint 1 Fl Oz $5.36	Echinacea-Pure American Root 1000 MG, 120 Tabs $19.27	Full Spectrum Astragalus Glyc. 2 Fl Oz $10.17

Full Spectrum Cordyceps 450 MG, 60 tabs $8.93	Full Spectrum Cordyceps 450 MG, 120 tabs $17.12


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