The cause of oral herpes is type I and I I Herpes simplex viruses.Severe infection may require treatment with an antiviral agent. Antiviral drugs used for herpes simplex and their usual doses are: Aciclovir – 200 mg 5 times daily for five days. Valaciclovir – 1 g 3 times daily for seven days

Oral herpes or cold sores is a viral infection caused by a subclass of herpes simplex virus. It is divided into 2 classes: type 1 and type 2. It can effect multiple areas of the body including: mouth, anal region and genitals. As a general rule of thumb type 1 causes disease in parts above waist and type 2 effects bellow waist. But both can effect vice versa as well. The infection is acquired by coming in contact with secretions of an effected person. The primary infection may or may not be silent. The virus may enter d ganglion and stay dormant there till a trigger comes along. It recurs after any condition which causes the body stress for example: fever, dehydration, emotional stress and trauma. The infection presents basically as fluid filled lesions preceded by fever, tingling sensations or pain in the affected area. Diagnosis is mostly clinical but a PCR may b used. Episode of symptoms is mainly self-limiting. Up till now no cure is found. The use of antipyretics, pain killers and antivirals (such as acyclovir) is done for symptomatic relief.