Condition
Fever blister causes
Gerald Hurowitz, M.D.Published 10 March 20051 min read
Key points
- A fever blister located on the lips, mouth, and face is usually caused by the highly contagious herpes simplex type 1 virus.
- Only a small percentage are caused by herpes simplex type 2 (the type usually associated with genital lesions).
- While there is no cure, there are medications that will relieve the pain and itch and speed the healing of the blister.
- See herpes labialis (oral herpes simplex) for details.
Information
Question:
What causes fever blisters?
Answer:
A fever blister located on the lips, mouth, and face is usually caused by the highly contagious herpes simplex type 1 virus. Only a small percentage are caused by herpes simplex type 2 (the type usually associated with genital lesions). While there is no cure, there are medications that will relieve the pain and itch and speed the healing of the blister. See herpes labialis (oral herpes simplex) for details.
Written and revised by
Gerald Hurowitz, M.D.
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