What is cold sore (herpes simplex)?

Oral herpes simplex is caused by human herpesviruses 1 and 2 (HSV-1 or HSV-2). It is characterized by small fluid-filled vesicles on the skin or a mucous membrane with a raised base often referred to as cold sores or fever blisters.

How do members experience cold sore (herpes simplex)?

Top 5 symptoms reported by people with cold sore (herpes simplex)*

*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.

Top treatments taken by people for cold sore (herpes simplex)*

Who has cold sore (herpes simplex) on PatientsLikeMe?

Age

Age Proportion # of patients
<20 4
20s 26
30s 47
40s 60
50s 47
60s 21
70+ 16

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 60
Female 148

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What is cold sore (herpes simplex)?

Oral herpes simplex is caused by human herpesviruses 1 and 2 (HSV-1 or HSV-2). It is characterized by small fluid-filled vesicles on the skin or a mucous membrane with a raised base often referred to as cold sores or fever blisters.



Common symptoms reported by people with cold sore (herpes simplex)

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it

Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.
Last updated:



Treatments taken by people for cold sore (herpes simplex)

Let’s build this page together! When you share what it’s like to have cold sore (herpes simplex) through your profile, those stories and data appear here too.

Got a question about living with cold sore (herpes simplex)? Members in the forum might have the answers.


Compare treatments taken by people with cold sore (herpes simplex)

Let’s build this page together! When you share what it’s like to have cold sore (herpes simplex) through your profile, those stories and data appear here too.

Got a question about living with cold sore (herpes simplex)? Members in the forum might have the answers.



Who has cold sore (herpes simplex) on PatientsLikeMe?

  • 0 new patients joined this month
  • 102 say cold sore (herpes simplex) is their primary condition

Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 4
20s 26
30s 47
40s 60
50s 47
60s 21
70+ 16
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 40
20-29 years 14
30-39 years 9
40-49 years 7
50-59 years 3
60-69 years 2
70+ years 1

Distribution of sex

Sex
Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 60
Female 148

Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 69
Not Diagnosed 22

These charts show data from cold sore (herpes simplex) patients who have completed their condition history
Last updated: