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Fever blister causes

Contents of this page:

Illustrations

Fever blister
Fever blister

Information    Return to top

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 number are caused by herpes simplex type 2, the type usually associated with genital lesions.

There is no cure for a fever blister. However, there are medications that will relieve the pain and itchiness, and speed the healing of the blister.

See: Herpes labialis (oral herpes simplex)

References    Return to top

Whitley RJ. Herpes simplex virus infections. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 397.

Update Date: 2/23/2009

Updated by: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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