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Who gets colds sores?
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Around 80% of the UK population
carry the simplex herpes virus but for many people the
virus lies dormant in the nerves
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1 in 5 people in the UK have
frequently recurring cold sores
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Cold sores affect all age groups. The
vast majority of individuals will suffer their first attack
between 10-19 years, but a cold sore can be triggered at
any stage of your life |
Causes
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Cold sores are usually passed
on in early childhood when the child is kissed by someone with
an active cold sore
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The cold sore virus goes
through the skin and travels up the nerve, where it will
lie dormant until triggered
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Cold sores will not usually
appear until after puberty when one of a number of reasons
might cause an attack, such as: |
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General stress - fatigue
and tiredness |
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Colds or other viruses
that lower the body's immune system |
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Emotional upset |
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The onset of menstruation
and changes in hormone levels |
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Changes in weather -
strong sunlight in the summer and cold winds in the
winter |
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Cold Sores - did you know?
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On average sufferers have
9 cold sores a year, however most commonly people have
a cold sore every 2-3 months
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The average length of an
outbreak is 6-7 days
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Only 50% of cold sore sufferers
treat their cold sore
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Reference: www.netdoctor.co.uk and www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk |
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