[MayoFlyFarmer (OP)]

I have a question for all of you savvy medical nerds out there.  Are ALL cold sores a symptom of Herpes Symplex Virus 1?  or are only SOME derived from that cause? 

Basically, I had always thought that they were a symptom of HSV1, but could be caused by other things too.  (just like a fever can be a symptom of MANY different types of ailments)  But a friends of mine tried telling me recently that anyone who gets cold sores has Herpes SV1.

Anyone know whether this is true or not.

Thanks,
-J

(and for the record, I've never had a cold sore.....    on ANY part of my body  [])

[chris]

Hi Justin

nice to see you back!

I wrote a detailed article about the herpes simplex virues and cold sores / genital herpes a little while back. Here's the URL

http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/articles/article/chrissmithcolumn4.htm/

The bottom line is that cold sores are most certainly the consequence of HSV infection, either type I or type II.

Chris

[MayoFlyFarmer (OP)]

Thanks for the 411 Chris.  Glad to be back (even if just breifly)  wish i could be around more often.  wow, how the site has grown!

[heliski55]

I have tried just about every product/ice/natural cure/etc.  Best thing I have found by far is viradux-coldsore.  You just use it like a chapstick 4x per day and no more gross cold sores.  I think it's fairly new.  Hope this helps!

[Rystok]

Where did you find this viradux? After a quick google I can only find websites which, quite simply, I wouldn't trust. Is this product available through a GP? What are the active ingredients?