Cold sores are painful and itchy groups of small blisters that appear on the lips and around the mouth. This is caused by herpes simplex virus and it is a lifetime disease. Once it infects a person, it will stay with that person for the rest of his or her life. The virus will just reside along the nerve endings waiting for another opportunity for it to cause symptoms again. Since it is a viral infection, antibiotics and other medication cannot do much good.
Depending upon the extent of the infection, cold sore can be serious if not treated at its earliest stage. The worse event that may happen is when the cold sore will also invade the inside of mouth. Usually, blisters will grow in the hard and soft palate, gums, throat, buccal lining, and even the tongue. When this happens, worse signs and symptoms may accompany the infection. The inside of the mouth is usually not affected unless there are extensive or widespread lesions outside the mouth. When cold sores invade the oral cavity, systemic infection may occur which can be indicated by fever, malaise, and headache. Dehydration and eating problem may also accompany the disease.
Treatment
With all the information mentioned above, it is only rational to arrive at the conclusion that treatment should be administered. The following are some of the ways to treat and manage cold sores.
Medication - recent breakthrough in the field of medicine is anti-virus drugs. It is important to remember that antiviral drugs should be reserved as an aggressive course of treatment. In addition to this, accompanying signs and symptoms can be relieved by taking specific medications to address them. For instance, analgesics should be taken in case of intolerable pain.
Gargle and rinse - having sores inside the mouth can be very discomforting. By gargling and rinsing, the mouth can be relieved from discomforts. Gargling cool water can also minimize the pain inside the mouth. Avoid hot drinks or foods as this might further irritate the sores. Do not eat spicy and salty food which can bring more discomfort.
Ointment - applying cream or topical ointment can help in decreasing the extent of the blisters and lesions.
Lysine - as an amino acid, lysine is part of the building blocks of protein which is essential for repairing and maintaining the integrity of connective tissues. Lysine comes in ointment and supplement form. The ointment can be applied on the blisters while the food supplement can sustain the ideal level of lysine in the body.
These are just some of the treatment and management methods for cold sores inside the mouth. Doing these tips can relieve the signs and symptoms of cold sores and prevent future reoccurrence.
