What is herpes simplex 1?

• A. Cold sore, fever blister
• B. Shingles
• C. Ring worm
• D. Athlete's foot

Answer: (A)

Herpes simplex virus type 1 most often causes oral herpes, presenting as a cold sore or fever blister around the mouth. The virus remains latent in nerve tissue and can reactivate during stress, illness, or fatigue, producing the familiar blister. In a sports setting, an active lesion is contagious through close skin-to-skin contact and saliva, so anyone with a cold sore should avoid close contact activities and not share towels, water bottles, or equipment until the lesion has crusted over and healed. The other listed conditions are different infections: shingles is due to varicella-zoster virus and shows a painful, dermatomal rash; ringworm and athlete's foot are fungal infections with ring-shaped or interdigital rashes. Thus, a cold sore or fever blister is the correct description for herpes simplex type 1.