Cold sore vs. fever blister?

Question

i am 20 years old, and i have never had a cold sore my entire life. This friday and saturday i was sick with a 103 fever. and yesterday i noticed a small lump on my lip, and this morning its bigger. I am freaking out because i've never gotten one before. did i get one because of my fever? im also under a lot of stress now. ugh i hate this =(

Answer 1

Cold sores and fever blisters are the same thing.

Both are reactivations of an oral herpes infection. 80% of adults have oral herpes, and most of us catch it as a baby or child and never have symptoms by adulthood.

However, the reason you don't get symptoms is because your immune system suppresses it. Anything that affects your immune system can trigger an outbreak of your herpes (a cold sore/fever blister).

It is extremely common to get an oral herpes outbreak when you are ill with something else because your immune system will be lowered. The reason we call them 'cold' sores or 'fever' blisters is because you often get outbreaks when you have a cold or fever. Stress, sunlight, poor diet and exhaustion are other known triggers.

When it has gone, you need to do all you can to get your immune system back up - eat well, take vitamins, sleep and maybe take a lysine supplement for a while (it helps). You might not get one for another 20 years!

Answer 2

They're the same thing. Fever blister doesn't sound as bad as saying the embarrassing words "cold sore." (Eww! Herpes!)