How is herpes on the lips transmitted: is it contagious to others?

What is a cold

Each of us gets a cold about three times a year. People with weakened immune systems are primarily susceptible to colds. Symptoms of a cold include general malaise, headache, sore throat, cough, nasal congestion, fever, and fatigue. For older people with heart disease, newborns, and people with chronic diseases, the virus poses a serious threat. The cause of a cold is an acute respiratory viral infection or ARVI, which is caused by viruses and bacteria that are most susceptible to humans. Many workaholic people don't consider a cold a cause for concern. They continue to work, not realizing that by doing so they risk serious consequences for their body. The mortality rate in such cases reaches 40%. A common cause of the disease is hypothermia of the entire body or its individual parts against the background of fluctuations in temperature and air humidity. There are more than 200 types of viruses that can cause colds. Among them, the most common are rhinoviruses. They affect the nasal mucosa in 30% of cases. Young children get colds up to 6 times a year. Smokers are also at risk. Inside the nose and throat a person has cilia, they remove excess mucus from the body. In smokers, the eyelashes are paralyzed, and mucus accumulates in the throat and nose, leading to inflammation. After the virus enters the human body, symptoms of the disease appear on the second or third day. On average, a cold lasts from ten days to two weeks.

ARVI symptoms

The first signs of ARVI are symptoms of irritation of the upper respiratory tract: a tickling sensation, a slight dry cough, runny nose, sneezing, sometimes tearfulness or signs of gastrointestinal upset. On the second or third day, signs of general intoxication appear: headache, weakness, fever, chills, aching bones. Gradually, the body begins to produce antibodies that “kill” the virus, releasing even more toxin into the blood, since the “death” of the virus releases its toxins. As a result, symptoms of general intoxication increase. And as a result of an increase in the number of immune cells, “dead” viruses and the cleansing of the affected epithelium, a runny nose increases and a wet cough appears. As soon as the sputum begins to come out during a wet cough, this will mean that the body is being cleansed and the disease is receding. The temperature during this period normalizes, the general condition becomes satisfactory. This is the most recent one. the culminating stage of ARVI, but also the most contagious for others. It is at this stage that the patient becomes most contagious.

Is the cold transmitted sexually?

Viruses can enter the human body through the nose and mouth through airborne droplets when a sick person coughs or sneezes near you. The virus is also transmitted through hands or objects when a sick person first touches his nose, eyes and mouth, and then greets or touches common objects. The virus does not enter the human body directly through sexual contact. Infection occurs through close contact with a sick partner, when there is both airborne and tactile contact.

Are colds on the lips transmitted?

Colds on the lips always appear at the most inopportune moment. The cause of painful, clear, fluid-filled blisters is the herpes virus. It is contagious and can be transmitted from a sick person or through household items. Indoors, at room temperature, the virus is active during the day. If a pregnant woman has a cold on her lips, then everything depends on the duration of pregnancy. If the pregnancy is short, then the fetus is not in danger in 1–3% of cases. If the pregnancy is more than six months old, then the risk of the disease is already 60%.

Prevention and barriers

It seems to many that there are no options for protecting against such a disease on the lips, with such an easy infection, but although there are indeed many methods for catching the virus, there are few methods on how you can protect yourself:

Is a cold transmitted through a kiss?

Kissing is a pleasant experience. During the kiss, the immune system is activated, stress is relieved, joy hormones are actively produced, blood circulation improves and excess calories are burned. However, under certain circumstances this activity can be dangerous. Kissing is one of the most common ways of transmitting herpes. If one of the partners has sores on the lip, and the other has the virus in its prime, then infection is inevitable. Saliva is an ideal environment for viruses to multiply. Once the virus enters the body of a healthy person, it remains there forever. It is no longer possible to cure him. Modern antiviral drugs can only accelerate the course of the disease. You can't even catch a cold from a kiss. Rhinoviruses, which cause colds, rarely enter our bodies through the mouth. An experiment was conducted. Infected volunteers kissed those who did not have a cold for one and a half minutes. As a result, only one of the 16 participants fell ill. It takes 8,000 times more viruses to catch a cold through a kiss. However, regular sore throat lozenges may reduce the risk of transmission. Buy only those that contain serious antiseptic components.

Some more sources of colds

The belongings of a person with a cold can be one of the main sources of infection in the home. Even in the process of washing or rearranging the clothes of a cold person, you can catch the virus. During washing, 99% of bacteria are destroyed. Cold viruses are much harder to wash away than bacteria. They can be found in the most inaccessible places on clothing. Half of the total number of cold viruses lives on the desktop and on the computer mouse. Risk professions include office workers, teachers, kindergarten teachers, bankers, and lawyers.

Who gets sick less often with colds?

With age, people get colds much less often. Teenagers get colds 2 times more often than people over 50 years of age. This happens because older people develop antibodies to cold viruses over the course of their lives. Recently, numerous studies have been conducted to find out why some people get colds more often and others less often. It all depends on the number of receptor cells to which rhinoviruses attach. In the human body, this is laid down at the genetic level.

Nasal congestion, dryness and burning of the mucous membrane, copious discharge or purulent crusts - all these symptoms characterize one of the most common inflammatory processes in the upper respiratory tract - rhinitis. A runny nose is a typical symptom of the common cold, as well as numerous allergies; it can occur in both children and adults. You can meet a person with a stuffy nose anywhere; Very often, rhinitis is observed in one of the family members or work team. Therefore, you should know whether a runny nose is contagious, and during what period of time a patient suffering from rhinitis is dangerous to others.

And the sun can provoke

Now an exacerbation is usually due to hypothermia or an acute respiratory viral infection. The so-called “solar herpes” often occurs: it usually occurs when people go on vacation to the mountains or to warm regions by the sea, where there is strong ultraviolet radiation. Those who have encountered this already know that before such a trip one must try to avoid aggravations.

In addition, a recurrence of herpes can be triggered by treatment at the dentist, some cosmetic procedures, eye surgery, and in general any medical and cosmetic manipulations in the facial area that damage nerve fibers. Therefore, if you have an exacerbation of herpes on the lips, such effects should be avoided. And before carrying them out, it is necessary to undergo treatment to relieve the exacerbation.

In mild cases of herpes, the rash goes away within 3-4 days. But if they linger longer and one fever follows another, this requires serious treatment, so you should consult a doctor. Such a course of the disease indicates problems with the immune system; in this case, it is necessary to take not only antiviral drugs, but also agents that regulate immunity. Only a doctor can help you choose them correctly. The same should be done if the rash on the lips is accompanied by general symptoms - fever, chills, drowsiness, fatigue or pain associated with the branches of the trigeminal nerve.

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Concept of runny nose

The appearance of a runny nose is usually associated with a cold. A person who sniffles and sniffles most often also complains of weakness, dizziness, increased body temperature, coughs and does not part with a handkerchief. Such symptoms really characterize a cold - a disease in which hypothermia weakens the immune system and creates conditions for the start of an infectious-inflammatory process.

You should know that the concept of “cold” is quite far from modern medical terminology and cannot include all types of infectious runny nose combined. Rhinitis, that is, inflammation of the nasal mucosa, which is called a runny nose in everyday life, is a manifestation of various infectious processes that occur acutely or chronically. With a cold, hypothermia plays the role of a provoking factor, and infection occurs not from the outside, but with the participation of one’s own opportunistic flora. Hypothermia promotes the activation of those microorganisms that, even normally, are constantly in the nose, pharynx, and tonsils. Most often, the patient already has a focus of chronic inflammation - an exacerbation of the pathological process occurs.

When it comes to acute respiratory infection (ARI), respiratory viruses (adenoviruses, rhinoviruses, respiratory syncytial virus, etc.) predominate as pathogens. They are transmitted from the source of infection (a sick person), primarily reaching the nasal mucosa. The multiplication of the virus and the response of the immune system to its invasion of the body leads to inflammation - rhinitis.

Sources of infection and methods of transmission

The source of infection can be a sick animal, bird, as well as a person, especially in the last days of illness. Some types of ARVI are transmitted only from animals and birds. But the majority of respiratory viruses are transmitted from person to person. There are also ARVIs among animals and birds, which are never transmitted to humans. In general, we can say that respiratory viruses are the most common on the planet. Almost all ARVIs are transmitted by airborne droplets, airborne dust and sexual contact. Some viruses, a very small part of them, can be transmitted through household contact. There are no other ways of transmitting ARVI today. But there is some evidence that ARVI is transmitted by contact. As an example, cases of ARVI infection through a handshake are given.

Probability of infection

Should you avoid interacting with anyone who has a runny nose? How to recognize whether there is a risk of infection? These questions are relevant throughout the year, since many people most of the time (staying in kindergarten, school class, office) are in close contact with each other.

Allergic, vasomotor rhinitis, as well as various variants of hypertrophy of the mucous membrane, polyps as non-infectious variants of the runny nose have a chronic course, but do not exclude the possibility of an infectious process. It is impossible to become infected only if the patient has an isolated non-infectious form of the common cold. This is typical:

sudden onset after contact with a provocateur (for example, an allergic runny nose develops within half an hour from the moment of inhalation of a pollen allergen, and vasomotor rhinitis is provoked by irritants - cold air, cigarette smoke, etc.);
the possibility of relief with medications (this is true for allergic rhinitis, which in many cases can be stopped by taking an antihistamine or using topical glucocorticosteroids);
absence of intoxication syndrome (infectious rhinitis, in contrast, is characterized by increasing weakness, fever with chills and a significant deterioration in general condition);
probable presence of episodes of non-infectious runny nose in the anamnesis.

A runny nose is contagious if the patient suffers an acute viral or bacterial infection - acute viral or bacterial rhinitis.

ARIs are extremely contagious; they are characterized by an acute onset, a rapid increase in signs of intoxication syndrome (fever, weakness), damage not only to the nose, but also to the pharynx, larynx, trachea, and bronchi. The pathogen is localized in the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, including the nasal cavity.

A patient with ARI, when sneezing, blowing his nose and coughing, releases tiny particles of pathological secretion containing the virus. Inhalation of such an aerosol or mechanical transfer of infected mucus causes infection. Sneezing and coughing are not the only route of transmission. The pathogen is also released during a conversation. The ejection radius is about 3-3.5 m.

The likelihood of infection depends on the susceptibility of the contact person, the functionality of his immune system, the presence of a number of additional factors (early childhood and old age, pregnancy, immunodeficiency of various etiologies, etc.).

Duration of spread of infection

A patient who suffers infectious rhinitis transmits the pathogen:

by airborne droplets;
by contact.

The spread of a virus or bacteria by airborne droplets occurs already from the first hours of illness, sometimes even during the incubation period. The danger is posed by patients with any form of infection, including erased (satisfactory general condition, absence of fever). All patients with a runny nose are most contagious at the onset of symptoms and during the first 2-3 days. However, the risk of transmission of infection remains until recovery (even during the period of convalescence, that is, recovery). In rare cases, the release of the pathogen continues for 2 weeks, when the symptoms have completely disappeared.

The contact route of transmission involves not only close contact (for example, with a kiss), but also indirect contact through shared objects. When you have a runny nose, they can be handrails in public transport, door handles, office items - the peculiarity of the contact path is that the pathogen remains on their surface. Aerosols dry out and lose their epidemiological danger within a few hours, but some infectious agents remain persistent in dust for up to several days.

Thus, a runny nose of an infectious nature is contagious for at least several days.

Can you get an STI through oral sex?

How to suspect STIs acquired orally

In many cases, infections may be asymptomatic.
If you have had unprotected oral sex with an untested partner, it is worth taking tests that will help identify the pathogen, if any. The incubation period for oral STIs depends on the type of pathogen, its quantity and the state of the immune system. It can last from several hours to several months. Infection can be suspected when a sore throat appears, a rash and sores appear on the lips or oral mucosa.

Mouth rashes due to oral STIs are often confused with stomatitis.

But over time it turns out that they do not respond to standard therapy. In such cases, it is worth taking an oral throat swab for STIs.

Plaques and mouth ulcers from oral STIs are also often confused with other diseases. In many cases, they resemble a common sore throat or pharyngitis. If within 2-3 days of standard therapy prescribed by the therapist, your health does not improve, you should think about the fact that this is not a common cold, but a sexually transmitted disease.

Can STIs acquired orally occur without affecting the genitals? Yes they can. Not always and not all infections spread throughout the body. The pathology may be local in nature.

Which doctor should I contact if I suspect an oral STI?

These diseases, as well as other forms of urogenital infections, are dealt with by a venereologist. Having assessed the visible clinical symptoms, the doctor will prescribe additional examinations that will help refute or confirm the diagnosis.

What to do if you suspect a disease? The first thing to do is to avoid sexual intercourse in any form and contact a venereologist. To clarify the diagnosis, you will need to undergo laboratory diagnostics. Since visually in most cases it is impossible to identify the pathogen.

What smear and blood tests are used for oral STIs?

The examination that is prescribed to all patients is a mucosal smear. The biomaterial is collected from the affected area, where the concentration of the pathogen is maximum. Sowing on a nutrient medium allows you to detect the pathogen and determine its sensitivity to antibiotics.

As with other forms of urogenital infections, if you have an oral infection, you can get a blood test.

Detection of antibodies to a particular pathogen and determination of their titer will make it possible to judge the duration of infection and the activity of the process. Blood and other biomaterials can be examined using the PCR method. Which directly allows you to detect the genetic material of viruses and bacteria.

How to treat STIs with oral infection

Treatment should be comprehensive and consist of etiotropic, local therapy and measures aimed at maintaining immunity. For bacterial infections, antibiotics are the mainstay of treatment. Trust the choice of drug to your doctor.

Since this depends not only on the type of infection, but also on the specific strain of the pathogen and the activity of the process.

What are the most effective oral antibiotics for STIs?

It's difficult to answer. The result will be given by the medicine that is suitable in a particular situation. Unfortunately, there is no universal recipe for treating all urogenital infections. If the causative agent is a virus, antibiotics are not indicated at all. Except in cases of secondary bacterial infection. Local therapy consists of rinsing and treating the oral cavity with antiseptic solutions. This helps prevent complications and speed up recovery.

Is it possible to have sex while treating an STI orally?

Unprotected - definitely not. If the pathogen is in the oral cavity, there is no guarantee that it has not penetrated the genital tract. During the treatment period, it is better to avoid any types of intimacy.

Prevention of STIs transmitted orally

Now you know that you can get HIV and other STIs orally. To prevent infection, you should avoid promiscuity and use a condom during all oral contacts. If intimacy does occur, to prevent STIs orally, you can use miramistin for rinsing or other antiseptics. This will reduce the risk of infection, but will not prevent it, so you should be examined by a venereologist as soon as possible.

If you suspect oral infection with an STI, contact a competent venereologist.

Prevention of infection

What should you do to avoid getting a runny nose? Necessary:

Stop or limit communication with the patient as much as possible.

This applies not only to close contact, but also to staying in the same room and visiting crowded places.

Remember personal hygiene.

You should wash your hands more often, dry yourself only with a personal towel, and avoid touching your face with your fingers or stationery objects.

Use a mask.

This is especially important when there is direct contact, such as when caring for a patient. The mask should be changed at least every 4 hours.

Monitor the condition of the nasal mucosa.

Sufficient helps maintain maximum activity of local immunity, and, accordingly, protection against infection. To moisturize, you can use saline drops in the nose and rinse with a saline solution.

A patient can reduce the risk of infecting others by using disposable handkerchiefs, remembering to wash their hands after each blowing their nose, sneezing or coughing, and while sneezing, cover their mouth with a handkerchief rather than with their palm. The patient is provided with separate dishes, towels, soap, and bed linen. It is recommended to regularly ventilate the room where the patient is located (in his absence).

Myth No. 1. If you sit “under the window”, you can get sick

It is not true. If you sit under a window or near an open window, you can get a cold in your muscles, but you won’t get ARVI. Colds and other “winter” diseases are not a consequence of hypothermia or draft, they are caused by viruses that are unlikely to fly into your window from the street.

On the other hand, some doctors believe that hypothermia in certain parts of the body can actually weaken the body and open the door for viruses. For example, a “cold nose” can lead to a cold and even the flu, so it is better to keep it warm and cover it with at least a scarf.

Also, recently, American scientists conducted an investigative experiment and found that people with frozen feet are more susceptible to infectious diseases than others. But again: cold is not the cause of the disease, but a contributing factor to it.

Myth No. 2. Poor health is caused by germs

Not certainly in that way. When microbes enter our body, they somehow encounter our immunity. If the infection is not very strong, we most likely will not even know that we have caught it: it will be suppressed by the internal forces of the body. If the virus is strong enough, the immune system will fight it more actively - and this is where we will feel the blow of the disease on ourselves. White blood cells (leukocytes) will begin to produce special substances to suppress the infection. In sufficient quantities to fight the infection, these substances will not only drive away the disease, but also cause fever, weakness, and sometimes nausea and dizziness. The same thing happens with our mucous membranes: cells irritated by the virus produce mucus several times more actively in order to wash away the infection and the products of fighting it - hence snot, coughing and sneezing.

Myth No. 3. Change in sputum color is a sign of exacerbation of the disease.

The color of your sputum can really tell your doctor about your condition. But in most cases, he does not speak of an exacerbation, but, on the contrary, that the disease proceeds as normal.

A few days after infection, the body begins to expel the enzymes used to repel the infectious attack. Most of them contain iron and give mucus a yellow or even greenish color.

Myth No. 4. The main source of infection is the person who has a cold.

This is certainly true. But this does not mean that you can protect yourself from infection by simply ceasing all contact with people who sneeze. And that's why.

Microbes live and multiply best in our mucous membranes: there is an ideal environment for them. When a person sneezes or coughs, he pushes a dose of microbes out, and they settle on all the objects surrounding him at that moment. Theoretically, on a cold, dry surface, say a doorknob, germs die quickly and therefore have no time to spread to anyone else. But that's not true. When we sneeze, germs do not come out on their own, but inside tiny droplets of mucus, which become shelter and food for them. In this form, they settle on door handles and handrails in the subway, then fall into the hands of another, unsuspecting wearer, who then covers his mouth to yawn or simply rubs his eyes. This is how the microbes enter the mucous membrane again and begin to multiply again.

Myth No. 5. Stress contributes to the development of disease.

This is true. Severe stress weakens the body no worse than an infectious disease, so the more nervous you are, the more likely you are to get sick. American scientists believe that the reason is corticosteroid hormones, produced during stress and reducing the body's resistance to any infection.

Myth No. 6. As people age, they catch colds less and less often.

Also true. School-age children can get sick up to 10 times a year, adults under 35 years old - up to 5 times, after 35 - even less, and so on. But it’s all a matter of experience: with each new disease, our body learns to produce more and more antibodies and fights microbes more and more effectively.

Myth No. 7. The easiest way to get infected is on public transport.

This misconception has its reasons: in a closed, poorly ventilated room, germs actually have a greater chance of spreading to a new host, especially if these hosts are standing close together and breathing down each other’s backs. But in fact, most often infection occurs at home, especially from young children to their mothers and fathers.

Another argument against this belief is that in the summer and spring, residents of large cities spend as much time in transport as the rest of the year, but the peaks of colds still occur in the fall and winter.

Instructions

For the development of infection, several factors are necessary - unstable immunity, a sufficiently large number of penetrating microbes and certain “gates” of infection, i.e. a place where optimal conditions are created for the development of pathogenic flora. For cold pathogens, such “gates” are the organs of the respiratory system, but if microbes get into a wound or with food into the stomach, nothing threatens the body.

Epidemic colds often occur at the end of autumn and beginning of spring. These periods are associated with the vulnerability of the immune system, as the body undergoes seasonal “restructuring” and exacerbation of various chronic diseases - gastritis, arthritis, cystitis, etc.

A person who falls ill with colds - acute respiratory viral infections, acute respiratory infections, sore throat - becomes contagious within 2-3 days. With a cold, viruses or bacteria live and multiply on the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract and are released into the environment when breathing, coughing and sneezing. It is known that when a sick person exhales, viruses spread over a distance of up to 5 meters, and when sneezing and coughing - up to 15 meters, so a lot of people around them become infected. It is also important that viruses do not live outside the cell, but turn into a capsule that is stable in the external environment for up to several days.

When air contaminated with cold pathogens enters the lungs of a healthy person, viruses and bacteria cling to the smallest villi of the nasal mucosa, pharynx, trachea and there is a risk of infection. If a person has various diseases, does not eat well, or has other factors that reduce the body’s resistance, the risk of infection increases. Colds can also spread through kissing and sharing utensils.

Viruses that cause colds pierce the upper layer of the mucous membrane and infect cells, where they begin to develop and multiply. The penetration process takes at least 12 hours. Pathogenic bacteria live on the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. The more pathogenic microflora gets on the mucous membranes of a healthy person, the greater the likelihood of disease and the faster clinical symptoms will appear. In the absence of treatment or if it is ineffective, large areas become infected, similar to a “descending” cold, i.e. the disease spreads from the nose to the throat, then to the trachea, then to the bronchi and lungs.

During their life, viruses and bacteria release metabolic products that are toxins for the human body. Intoxication of the body is manifested by weakness, malaise, often a cold is accompanied by an increase in body temperature.

The first symptoms make themselves felt on the 2nd day of infection.
A person with a strong immune system is able to overcome the disease without worsening its course. In a patient with a weakened immune system, acute respiratory infections manifest themselves in the form of malaise, fever, cough and snot. During this period, the patient is especially dangerous to others, as he becomes a carrier of acute respiratory infections. So how
is
a person with acute respiratory infections
?

The whole truth about colds on the lips: causes and treatment

Fever, or cold sores, are usually caused by the herpes simplex virus type I. It infects more than 90% of people worldwide.

This means that the virus constantly lives in the body, but mostly “sleeps”; not everyone has manifestations of the disease. How to keep it under control?

What it is?

Herpes is a virus that infects a cell, penetrating its genetic apparatus. It is impossible to completely get rid of the virus. However, it usually does not manifest itself in any way.

The most common symptoms of herpes are blistering rashes that can appear on the lips, mucous membranes of the nose and mouth, genitals and body.

Unfortunately, the Russians have established the principle of treatment exclusively with external ointment. However, the important fact is that the virus divides in the blood and treatment must be systemic. External agents are prescribed mainly only to the mucous membranes, and only as an additional measure, since the drug is practically not absorbed from the surface of the skin into the systemic bloodstream. In Europe there is a very clear distinction in terms of relapse rates. It is believed that if exacerbations of herpes simplex occur up to four times a year, then this is a rare recurrence, and treatment is prescribed according to the exacerbation. If relapses of herpes simplex occur more than four times a year, then treatment with antiviral drugs is prescribed for life. This is a shock for an unprepared person: not only do you have to swallow pills, you always have to! But this technique completely eliminates relapses, and the patient begins to live a full life. Moreover, more and more advanced drugs are now appearing. The main thing is that the problem can be solved and done safely. Sergey Kazakov, dermatovenerologist

You can become infected with herpes in different ways. For example, sexual, airborne or birth (from mother to child). Infection through physical contact with a sick person is also common - shaking hands, touching common objects, kissing. It is considered normal if rashes appear no more than four to five times a year and only on the lips. However, you need to be wary of exacerbations that occur more often. If rashes appear not only on the lips, but also on other parts of the body, you must urgently consult a doctor and undergo an immunological examination.

Causes

The virus awakens when a person's immune system weakens. And this can happen for many reasons: due to hypothermia, overheating, pregnancy, large amounts of alcohol, stress or infectious diseases.

Dormant herpes is not transmitted. It becomes most contagious when there are blisters and sores on the skin from which a discharge may appear.

After a person has had herpes, the virus remains in an inactive state in the nerve cells under the skin. Therefore, it may appear in the same place in the future. Repeated exacerbation of the disease is provoked by a viral infection or fever, hormonal changes, stress, fatigue, exposure to sunlight and wind, and instability of the immune system.

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Herpes in its waking form often accompanies people with HIV infection and AIDS, eczema, serious burns, and those taking chemotherapy and potent drugs.

The cause of herpes in winter can be severe hypothermia, vitamin deficiency, lack of movement and fresh air, as well as ARVI and influenza.

Symptoms

Before the blisters “hatch”, itching, burning, and tingling may appear at the site of future rashes. Therefore, doctors recommend starting drug therapy at this stage; it is more effective.

Symptoms may persist for several days, and the blisters will heal within two to four weeks. When herpes first appears, some people experience fever, painful gum erosion, sore throat, headache or muscle pain, and swollen lymph nodes.

Recurrences of oral herpes symptoms can cause discomfort and lead to mental disorders. With genital herpes, these factors reduce the quality of life and destroy sexual relationships. However, over time, most people get used to this “symbiosis” and adapt to coexistence with the infection.

How to protect yourself

If herpes has already appeared, the doctor should prescribe the patient antiviral drugs for regular use. During an exacerbation of the disease, doctors advise preventing its spread. To do this, you must avoid skin contact with other people and do not share common objects - towels, lip ointments, lipstick, dishes. The patient should also remember about hygiene and wash their hands as often as possible.

Herpes in the mouth area is caused by the herpes simplex virus type I, and infection often occurs in childhood. It is worth noting that the infection persists throughout life. The herpes virus is transmitted through the surface of the mouth and facial skin. The occurrence of rashes and relapses throughout life is often provoked by reduced and weakened immunity. To avoid becoming infected with the herpes simplex virus, you should avoid kissing and contact with the saliva of people who have rashes in the mouth. Adequate sleep, a balanced diet and a well-developed immune system that ensures normal levels of vitamin D3 will help avoid relapse. If herpes is activated frequently - more than twice a year - or the rashes are profuse, you should consult a doctor. Irina Buleeva, general practitioner, clinical pharmacologist of the Online Doctor service

Firstly , you need to dress warmly. To prevent the recurrence of herpes, it is better to wear a long down jacket or fur coat, warm shoes and socks. Don't forget about the hat, mittens, and scarf. It is better to prevent hypothermia than to undergo treatment for two weeks.

Secondly , watch your diet. Eating fruits and vegetables will save you from vitamin deficiency. Pay special attention to vitamins A, C and E. Ginger, tangerines, oranges, persimmons, brewed rose hips and other foods rich in nutrients will help maintain immunity.

Thirdly , you should walk and play sports more. Winter is the time for active sports and outdoor recreation. Those who don't like skiing and snowboarding can simply enjoy a walk in a winter park or in the forest.

Fourth , get plenty of rest. Stress and nervous exhaustion also weaken the immune system. Don't neglect vacations or take on a lot of work when you feel very tired. Herpes appears not only in winter, but also in summer. If the sun's rays trigger it, use sunscreen before going outside.

Research shows that most people infected with the herpes virus never notice symptoms.

There are two types of herpes simplex virus. The first is transmitted primarily through oral contact and causes oral herpes, or “cold sores.” The second refers to sexually transmitted infections.

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