Herpes Simplex Virus causes cold sores. It causes the eruption of the skin that later leads to the collection of fluid in blisters. Cold sores are associated with Type-1 Herpes Simplex Virus. A cold sore can appear on the face, lips, and interior of the mouth. It is basically the formation of a group of blisters filled with fluid. There are as many as 8 cold sore stages that have been identified. These are:
1. Latent Stage - This is the dormant stage. In this, the cold sore virus is hiding in the nerve ganglia near the back of the jaw on the side where the cold sore usually appears. In many cases, the cold sore herpes virus has been known to sleep for weeks or years without any incident. The body's immune system keep the virus in check. But when there is a physical stress in any other part of the body, the immune system at this area may drop. The cold sore virus can then escape from its latent location, and travel to a location on the surface to reproduce. This stage is the first of the cold sore stages.
2. Prodrome Stage- The cycle of the cold sore virus reproduction starts in this stage. The cold sore virus passes down the nerve fibers to the surface. This movement of the virus causes the itching and tempts you to touch the tingling or itching cold sore area. A dryness or burning sensation is also noticeable in this case. This stage may last from a few hours to a few days before entering into the next stage.
3. Inflammation Stage- Now, after arriving at the surface, the virus begins its reproduction cycle, entering into a more intense stage. In this stage, there is an appearance of redness and swelling at the spot of the cold sore. This happens as a result of the cold sore herpes virus invading the body cell.
4. Pre-Sore Stage- Sores in this stage are identified by the appearance of cold sore vesicles. This is a grouping of several small blisters. These blisters look like tiny hard pimples that are very painful when touched.
5. Open Sore Stage- This stage is extremely contagious, and also the most painful stage of all the cold sore stages. In it, all the small blisters break open and create one big weeping sore after merging together. This stage may cause a fever.
6. Crusting Stage- This stage is marked with the turning of cold sore into a yellowish scab or crust. The sore is still painful, although not as much as in the preceding stage.
7. Healing Stage- Once scabbed over, the cold sores start healing from inside out. In this stage, a new skin starts forming below the crust.
8. Post-Scab Stage- In this stage, the skin is totally healed and no cold sore scab is visible.
Hence, it is evident from these stages of a cold sore that the second stage to the last stage, the sore is very active and extremely contagious. The average life span of the cold sore is three to four weeks. Very often, it also depends upon the stage at which the health treatment is sought.
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