Nickname: HSV

Signs & Symptoms: HSV causes oral lesions or “cold sores”. These heal in 2 – 3 weeks but the virus does not leave the body and may reoccur at a later time producing a milder infection with another cold sore. This may happen again and again during the infected person’s lifetime.

Spread: HSV infections usually occur early in childhood or adolescence by kissing someone who has a cold sore. Re-occurrence usually happens when
the person is under stress or when immunity is low.

Who is at risk: Anyone who comes in contact with the virus is at risk, especially children and people with lowered immunity.

Prevention: Don’t kiss anyone who has an obvious cold sore. Don’t touch cold sores or pick at them when they are healing. Wash hands after touching a cold sore.

“I’ll make you a sore loser”