Patient/caregiver was educated on measures to prevent activation of cold sores as follows: Senior citizens, individuals receiving chemo or radiation therapies, individuals with history of HIV or AIDS, and individuals with history of organ transplantation & prolonged steroid intake can be particularly at increased risk for exposure to infectious agents and diseases. The risk to contact infectious diseases can be particularly high especially during times of season change and epidemic outbreaks. Individuals at risk for [...]

Patient/caregiver was educated on risk factors for cold sores activation as follows: In individuals with history of cold sores infection, the herpes virus can live latent and inactive in the nervous tissues of skin involved for years. Strong and intact immune system can help keeping the virus latent, thus preventing it’s reactivation. The latent virus has the potential to get reactivated anytime in future, especially under conditions of compromised immune system, resulting in the painful blistering rash [...]

Patient/caregiver was educated on signs and symptoms of cold sores as follows: Cold sores, also called fever blisters, are due to infection with herpes viruses and present as small fluid-filled blisters in patches. The viral infection can result in a blistering rash with itching and burning along the facial skin involved, especially on the lips, around the mouth, nose, and cheeks. Patients can often present with fever, sore throat, and swollen glands in the neck. The [...]

Patient/caregiver was educated on pathophysiology of cold sores as follows: Cold sores, also called fever blisters, are due to infection with herpes viruses and present as small fluid-filled blisters in patches. Some strains of herpes viruses, typically HSV-1 & HSV-2, cause cold sores, with HSV-1 causing the sores around the mouth and HSV-2 causing the sores in the genital regions. Cold sores and herpes virus infections are highly contagious and the fluid leaking out of [...]