Herpes in the mouth

When people are affected by herpes, it is a widespread virus that has a very important property; with a negative sign, of course. The virus will be in the body for the rest of your life, as it settles in the body's cells. Fortunately, this does not necessarily mean that you will have to be bothered by repeated outbreaks of herpes in the mouth or elsewhere in the body. For many, the virus will lie dormant for many years or the rest of your life. But for about 20% of those infected, this means that they will have herpes outbreaks at regular intervals for the rest of their lives. The hard truth is that there is no treatment for herpes on the lips or in the mouth or at all, because herpes is a virus and scientists have not yet invented a truly effective medicine against the virus.

Herpes virus in the mouth

There are two different types of herpes, with oral herpes, also known as herpes 1 or herpes labialis, being the most common. When you are infected with herpes type 1, you will typically experience periods when the virus flares up and other periods when the virus is dormant. Some people will experience frequent outbreaks, while others may go for years without feeling the virus. The luckiest people are allowed to experience a single outbreak, after which they do not feel any of the virus for the rest of their lives.

It varies from individual to individual how often someone is affected and plagued by herpes outbreaks. Some suffer from many and frequent outbreaks, while others experience outbreaks rarely or almost never. When the virus is in an outbreak, oral herpes will appear as sores and blisters in the area around the mouth and in the rest of the face. It will typically cause symptoms such as burning, itching, tenderness and swelling in the affected area, and oral herpes can also make it painful to eat and drink.

Approximately 80% of Danes are infected with herpes sores in the mouth.

Although herpes is a virus that is reviled by many, it is actually something that the vast majority of Danes have in their bodies, even if they don't know it. Approximately 80% of the Danish population is infected with herpes 1, and the vast majority are infected before they are five years old.

Although the vast majority of the population is infected with herpes, not everyone experiences repeated outbreaks. Approximately 20% of those infected experience repeated outbreaks.

How is oral herpes transmitted?

Herpes around the mouth is technically called herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) . When a person becomes infected with herpes type 1, it occurs through skin-to-skin contact or mucous membrane contact. You can therefore infect or become infected with the herpes virus through kissing, close hugging or other forms of contact that involve close skin contact or contact with mucous membranes. In rare cases, herpes is also seen to be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy.

Some viruses are only contagious when they are in an outbreak. Unfortunately, this is not the case for herpes 1, which always poses a risk of infection. Although the risk of infection is greater when herpes is in an outbreak, it will always be contagious and, especially when it comes to herpes in the mouth, there is a risk of infection through mucous membrane and skin contact. The only time when herpes type 1 is not contagious is when it is transmitted to a person with herpes type 2. People with herpes 2 are basically immune to herpes 1. However, if you have herpes 1 yourself and are exposed to infection by a person with herpes 2, you can still be infected with this type of herpes.

What does herpes in the mouth look like?

There are several different signs and symptoms of a herpes outbreak in the mouth, and herpes in the mouth can also appear in several ways. For most people, an outbreak will be identifiable in the form of the familiar herpes sores on the lip, also known as cold sores.

Many people who experience herpes outbreaks will typically be able to feel an outbreak before it is visible. The skin will become sore, swollen and irritated before the outbreak becomes visible with blisters that later turn into sores.

In addition to soreness and irritation on the skin, sores on the skin around the mouth, nose and eyes are also a classic sign of an outbreak. Others also experience herpes symptoms on the tongue and in the throat. So it is the entire face that can be affected by herpes and not just the area around the mouth.

In addition to the tender, fluid-filled blisters that later turn into ulcers, you may also experience other symptoms of herpes inside the mouth, such as fever, headache, pain or irritation of the skin or mucous membranes, and swollen lymph nodes. These occur especially during the first outbreak, also called the primary infection. This can also result in sore throat or keratitis.

Are herpes and cold sores the same thing?

Cold sores are caused by the virus known as herpes 1 or herpes labialis. When herpes is in an outbreak, it can be experienced as cold sores on the lips , as many people are familiar with. Typically, an outbreak starts with a tingling, burning or itching sensation on the lip, and after just a few hours, many will experience small blisters appearing on the lip. An outbreak often lasts between 7-10 days, and in the vast majority of cases, there will be no scar.

When the blisters burst, the familiar cold sore appears. If you notice that the crust turns yellowish or that the wound does not heal, there may be a risk that your wound has become infected with staphylococcus. Therefore, you should always contact your doctor if this is the case.

Herpes 1 can also be experienced as sores and blisters in the mouth and throat, around the nose, eyes and generally throughout the face. In all cases, a common feature of the symptoms is that the skin is irritated and swollen.

Can herpes be transmitted from mouth to genitals?

Herpes on the lips is transmitted through physical contact, and therefore there is a risk that you can transmit herpes from the mouth to the genitals or vice versa through oral sex or other physical contact. When you have an outbreak of herpes in the mouth or in the area around the genitals, you should therefore make sure to follow the advice to avoid physical contact.

It is worth noting that if you perform oral sex on someone who is infected with herpes 2, much research shows that the other person will not become infected with herpes type 1. This means that people with HSV-2 cannot be infected with HSV-1. However, the opposite is not true, and if you have herpes 1, you can still become infected with herpes 2.

Herpes in the mouth in children

Many children are infected with herpes on the lip and in the mouth. Approximately 80% of the Danish population is infected with herpes 1, and a large part of these 80% are infected before they turn five years old.

The frequent infection among young children is due to the fact that children do not think in the same way about limiting physical contact in, for example, daycare. Children are typically very direct in their contact with other people, and this is both wonderful and life-affirming, but it also poses a greater risk of infection when it comes to herpes, among other things.

Oral herpes is not dangerous for adults or children, so there is no need to panic or worry if your child becomes infected. However, the child may experience discomfort and irritation in the infected area, and it may be a good idea to seek medical attention to get creams or similar to relieve and treat symptoms.

Only in newborns can a herpes infection be dangerous and you should therefore never be in physical contact with a newborn if you have a herpes outbreak. An infection can cause serious complications and in special cases be fatal. If you have herpes, but not in an outbreak, you should also pay close attention to your hygiene for the sake of your newborn. You should also avoid kissing your newborn before the little one has had time to build up an immune system, which usually means about the first month after birth, after 40 weeks of pregnancy. Read more about the herpes virus in newborns here.