Herpes
is a viral disease. One of the most well-known manifestations of a herpes infection is small, clear, painful blisters on the lips. Previously, in such a case they said “a cold on the lip popped up”, now they more often talk about “herpes on the lip”.
However, the family of herpes viruses is quite large. There are several types of herpes virus that can infect the human body. The most studied types are:
- herpes simplex virus type 1
(HSV-1). It is he who is responsible for pimples on the lip. HSV-1 primarily affects the mucous membranes of the lips, oral cavity and nasopharynx. Herpetic rashes can also appear within the nasolabial triangle (in particular, on the wings of the nose), less often on the cheeks and other parts of the face. Recently, HSV-1 quite often becomes the cause of herpetic lesions of the genital area, where it is introduced through oral sex; - herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) – genital herpes
. Main manifestations: redness, the appearance in the area of redness of bubbles filled with liquid, tending to merge, the appearance of erosions and crusts at the site of the bubbles, itching, headache and muscle pain, increased urination; - chickenpox virus
(varicella) is a type 3 herpes virus. In people who have already had chickenpox, this type of virus causes herpes zoster. Therefore, this type of herpes is also called Varicella-Zoster; - Epstein-Barr virus
(Epstein-Barr viral infection - EBVI) is a type 4 herpes virus. It is the causative agent of mononucleosis, causes malignant diseases of lymphoid tissue, and is considered the cause of chronic fatigue syndrome; - cytomegalovirus
– herpes virus type 5. The virus poses a threat to children during fetal development. May affect internal organs.
Causes of herpes
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) can be transmitted through household contact. Airborne transmission is also possible.
The airborne route is the main route of infection with the varicella zoster virus.
Genital herpes and cytomegalovirus are transmitted sexually.
You can also become infected with herpes through blood or saliva. The virus can be transmitted through saliva through kissing. Small children who put things in their mouths every now and then are also very vulnerable. If at least one child in a children's group is infected, a rapid spread of the infection can be expected.
Blisters on the mucous membrane of the lips in children
Dropsy appears on the lips of children for the following reasons:
- In newborns, blisters are often caused by excessive sucking during feeding (“food blister”). Such formation disappears on its own without any consequences.
- Bubbles with purulent contents indicate aphthous stomatitis.
- A large number of small white blisters on a child’s lips indicates the presence of a serious illness: chickenpox, measles or rubella.
If a pimple appears on the mucous membrane of your baby’s mouth, you don’t have to wait for it to go away on your own. It is better to contact your pediatrician immediately.
Herpes symptoms
Currently, most people are infected with some type of herpes virus. It is believed that antibodies to the Epstein-Barr virus can be detected in almost every adult (up to 98% of the adult population of the Earth). Antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 1 are detected in 90% of the adult population of large cities.
However, as a rule, carriage of a herpes infection does not lead to the development of the disease. The herpes virus is activated when the body's defenses decrease. The weaker the immune system, the more likely the virus is to transition from dormant to active.
That is why the herpes simplex virus type 1 is popularly called “cold on the lip.” The appearance of herpetic rashes is usually preceded by a common runny nose, that is, ARVI. The disease weakens the immune system, which is what the herpes virus takes advantage of.
Symptoms of herpes simplex
When infected with herpes simplex virus type 1, the incubation period ranges from 1 to 8 days. Typical symptoms: chills, fever up to 39-40°C, headache, general weakness and drowsiness. Then redness appears, in place of which characteristic bubbles form. When the oral mucosa is affected, blisters are usually found on the inside of the lips, tongue, and less often on the palate, palatine arches and tonsils. Bubbles appear at the site where the virus enters the mucous membrane. Subsequently, the bubbles burst, leaving behind painful erosions.
The disappearance of symptoms does not mean complete recovery. The virus remains in the body and after some time (in conditions of decreased immunity) a relapse of the disease is possible. Relapses can occur 1-3 times a year for several years and even decades.
Symptoms of genital herpes
The incubation period of genital herpes lasts from 1 to 10 days, after which itching (burning) may be observed in the areas of future rashes. After which swelling appears, and then groups of bubbles appear on the mucous membranes of the genital organs. The inguinal lymph nodes are enlarged. The blisters burst and erosions and ulcers form in their place. The process can last from two to five weeks.
Relapse of the disease is possible within two weeks after the initial lesion. Relapses occur in at least half of those who have recovered from the disease.
Features of the appearance of white bubbles
Some patients develop white blisters on their lips, the reason for this is a change in the performance of the sebaceous glands. They are usually common among adolescents, which is explained by unstable hormonal levels during puberty.
Also, the occurrence of a pathological process can be observed due to the individual characteristics of the location of the sebaceous glands in the human body and smokers.
If the patient's gland ducts narrow, sebaceous secretions accumulate, causing white blisters to appear on the lips. When rashes appear, there is practically no pain, rarely burning or itching. These symptoms can go away without outside intervention.
If you press on the membrane of the bubble, this may cause liquid to appear. But the patient is strictly prohibited from squeezing it out on his own! Such attempts can cause infection and cause scarring on the lips.
Methods for diagnosing herpes
Diagnosis of herpes is carried out, first of all, on the basis of examination of the patient, since herpetic rashes have a certain specificity. However, your doctor may order laboratory tests. Laboratory tests can detect infection even in the absence of obvious manifestations.
Herpes test
Be prepared that if you suspect a herpes infection, the doctor will write a referral for a blood test, which will determine the presence of antibodies to the herpes virus in the blood. Based on the results of the analysis, it will be possible to judge not only the presence of the pathogen, but also its activity.
More information about the diagnostic method
Sign up for diagnostics To accurately diagnose the disease, make an appointment with specialists from the Family Doctor network.
Bubbles on the inside of the lip
Quite often, blisters appear on the inside of the lip, accompanied by itching. For treatment, antihistamines are prescribed:
- Fenistila
- Telfasta
- Claritina.
These medications are not only characterized by a high level of effectiveness, but also have a minimal number of side effects.
To eliminate unpleasant symptoms, it is recommended to apply ice or a cold compress to the location of the disease - when using cold, vasoconstriction is observed, against the background of which histamine comes out.
Treatment methods for herpes
Treatment of herpes is aimed at suppressing viral activity, as well as increasing immunity. Oral and topical medications may be prescribed.
The selection of drugs is carried out by a doctor depending on the type of disease (type of infection), as well as on the location of the lesion.
It is impossible to completely eliminate the herpes virus from the body. That is why it is important to always maintain the body’s defenses at a sufficiently high level, and also to prevent re-entry of the virus.
Prevention of herpes
If a person close to you has manifestations of herpes (“a cold has popped up on the lip”), try to ensure compliance with the following hygiene rules:
- use an individual towel and personal hygiene products (soap, toothbrush, etc.);
- be careful with cosmetics: do not use lipstick of a sick person;
- If you have genital herpes, avoid sexual intercourse.
Make an appointment Do not self-medicate. Contact our specialists who will correctly diagnose and prescribe treatment.
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First aid
If blisters appear on the lips, the patient must be given first aid. To eliminate pain, cold is applied to the tumors. You can also use folk and traditional medicine.
Honey is quite effective in this case.
Preparing the medicine is quite simple. To do this, take a teaspoon of honey and dilute it in a glass of water. This product is used to rinse the mouth.
To treat blisters in the mouth, you can use the method discussed in this video:
With its help, local immunity is increased and the skin is restored as quickly as possible. Patients are also recommended to regularly rinse their mouth. For this purpose, Chlorhexidine or Furacillin solution can be used.
Drug therapy
To eliminate the pathological condition, drug therapy is most often used. The method of treating a tumor directly depends on the cause of its appearance.
If a patient develops a viral type of infection in the body, then he needs to take medications that have an antiviral effect. This is Zovirax or Acyclovir.
To ensure the full functioning of the immune system and strengthen the body, it is recommended to take Immudon or Immunal. Patients are also recommended to take vitamin complexes.
Quite often, neoplasms in people are observed against the background of trauma or mechanical damage to the mucous membranes.
Initially, it is necessary to eliminate the factor that damaged the mucous membrane. If the patient has damaged teeth, veneers, or dentures in the oral cavity, then he should seek help from a dentist.
If a pathological process occurs against the background of allergic reactions, it is necessary to use medications that have antihistamine properties. In some cases, there is blood inside the bladder.
It may progress or increase in size. In the presence of such manifestations, it is recommended to treat with surgical intervention.
After the operation, it is necessary to treat the mucous membranes with appropriate medications. The most effective in this case are:
- Metrogil Denta;
- Solcoseryl;
- Methyluracil.
With the help of these medications, the process of tissue regeneration is accelerated, as well as the disinfection of postoperative wounds and the oral mucosa.
If the blister is accompanied by severe pain, then to eliminate it it is necessary to use the anesthetic spray Ledocaine. If there are contraindications to this drug, it is necessary to use other drugs that have an analgesic effect.
Drug therapy is quite effective in treating blisters on the inside of the lips.
Before using a particular drug, the patient is advised to determine the presence of contraindications. Otherwise, unwanted effects may occur.
Traditional medicine
In the fight against blisters on the inside of the lips, the use of traditional medicine is recommended. They are characterized not only by a high level of effectiveness, but also by safety, which allows them to be used by any category of patients.
In most cases, treatment for blisters is carried out using:
- Calendula tinctures. It is used to make baths or lotions. To prepare the medicine, you need to take a pharmacy tincture and dilute it with water in a ratio of 1:2. The medication should be used 3-4 times a day.
- Sea buckthorn oil.
This product can be purchased at a pharmacy. A piece of cotton wool is soaked in it and applied to the tumor three times a day. With the help of this drug, the most effective fight against bacterial infections is carried out. Thanks to the universal properties of the folk medicine, damaged tissues are restored as quickly as possible when used. - Ointments. If the cause of the blister is a burn, then the patient is recommended to use ointment. Its preparation is carried out on the basis of butter and propolis solution in a ratio of 10:1. The mixture must be brought to a boil and strain through cheesecloth. The medicine is recommended to be used twice a day.
Despite the fact that traditional medicine is as safe as possible, it is recommended to consult a specialist before using any of them.
Additional measures and prevention
The correct approach plays a very important role in the treatment of blisters. That is why the patient is recommended to adhere to certain rules. Otherwise, the patient may experience complications.
If the tumors do not go away for a long period, then the patient is strictly prohibited from self-medicating. If a blister has formed on the lip, then biting it or piercing it with a sharp object is strictly prohibited.
The use of untested drugs for the treatment of pathology is not recommended. Doctors do not recommend smoking during the treatment of blisters. Provocation and irritation of the mucous membrane must be excluded.
To avoid the appearance of blisters, it is necessary to adhere to certain rules of prevention. For this purpose, the patient is recommended to go to the dentist every 6 months. Solid food should be consumed by a person as carefully as possible.
After eating, it is recommended to rinse the mouth.
A person needs to regularly consume vitamin complexes, which will have a positive effect on strengthening the immune system. Regular sanitation of the oral cavity is a mandatory preventive measure for the formation of blisters.
Auxiliary symptoms
A blister that has appeared on the lip on the side of the mouth cannot but bother the owner. If the cause of the tumor is an injury, the patient will feel a gradually subsiding acute pain. The mucous membrane will begin to swell and turn slightly red. Slight hyperthermia (heating) of the tissue at the site of injury, burning and itching are possible. Some patients experience fever accompanied by chills.
Regional lymph nodes enlarge and may become too sensitive to touch. Such a symptom may appear immediately after a pimple appears on the oral mucosa.
The appearance of watery blisters on the lips is often accompanied by general weakness and lethargy. A person quickly gets tired and begins to refuse food. The blister can burst due to injury from teeth or food, as a result of which all the liquid pours out, and the blister itself begins to gain volume again.
Requires sacrifices
It is better to avoid decorative cosmetics (lipstick, lip gloss). They dry out the lips and, in addition, can spread the infection to other places. To hide defects on the lip, it is better to use a pharmaceutical antiherpetic patch. But if you simply cannot imagine yourself without cosmetics, at least take the product with a cotton swab and immediately dispose of it after application. But it is better to use lip balms containing petroleum jelly and allantoin to moisturize and soften herpetic sores.
Also, during illness, it is better to abandon contact lenses and replace them with glasses. This will reduce the risk of inflammation of the cornea of the eye - herpetic keratitis, which can even threaten blindness.
It is believed (although this has not been proven) that a special diet helps reduce the incidence of herpes. You should limit, or better yet completely avoid, foods that contain large amounts of arginine: beef, nuts, chocolate, raisins and all flour products. Fatty and salty foods and sweet carbonated and caffeine-containing drinks are undesirable at this time. On the contrary, foods rich in l-lysine (an antagonist of arginine) are useful during this period. These include boiled or baked potatoes, dairy products, boiled pork, lamb and poultry, egg whites, soybeans, lentils, fish, fruits and vegetables. For drinks, preference should be given to pure water and tea without sugar (the body requires at least 1.5-2 liters of liquid per day).
Well, the last sacrifice that will be required during the treatment of an exacerbation of herpes is a temporary refusal from sex (as a last resort, you should use a condom and refrain from kissing).
