What Are the Causes of Joint Pain & Fever Blister?

There are many strains of herpes virus, only eight of which infect humans.
According to the American Social Health Association, up to 80 percent of the US adult population is infected with the herpes virus, three-quarters of whom don't even know they have the virus and may not have experienced symptoms. The family of herpes virus that infects humans is numbered from one to eight and causes diseases ranging from cold sores, chickenpox and glandular fever to Kaposi's sarcoma.

What Causes Fever Blister?

• Fever blisters usually occur on the mouth.

  Fever blister, or "cold sore," on the mouth and face is generally caused by herpes simplex type 1 (HSV1) while genital lesions are generally the result of herpes simplex type 2 (HSV2) virus, though both can cause lesions on the face and genitals. The virus enters the body through the mucus membranes of the mouth, eye, vagina, or penis during kissing or sex and begins to replicate. It then migrates to a nerve root (ganglion), where it hides and remains dormant.

Why Do Fever Blisters Keep Appearing?

• Once inside the body, the herpes virus does not go away. From time to time events within the body "awaken" the dormant virus and it "reactivates." These include illness, fever, exposure to the sun, menstruation and trauma, including surgery. The virus travels back along the nerve to the surface of the skin, causing itching or tingling and blisters. Sometimes there are no symptoms, but the virus is active and can be spread from person to person.

Why Does Herpes Cause Joint Pain?

• Joint pain is caused by inflammation of the spinal cord.

  All of the herpes viruses, including HSV1 and HSV2, can cause joint pain; according to the Transverse Myelitis Association the medical term for this type of joint pain is myelitis (inflammation of the spinal cord). The joints themselves are not inflamed or infected, but inflammation in the spinal cord interferes with the nerves carrying messages to and from the spinal cord. These nerves send signals up the spinal cord to the brain, which interprets it as pain. The level of the inflammation of the spinal cord determines the joint in which pain is felt.

How Can Herpes Be Cured?

• As of 2010, there is no cure for herpes. Once infected, the virus will remain in the body and cannot be eliminated. Medical treatment is direct toward reducing the painful symptoms and speeding healing of external sores using medicines such as acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir. Simple analgesics such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help, as can simple methods such as cool compresses, warm baths and keeping the affected area clean and dry

Will I Spread The Herpes Virus?

• Protect yourself and others.

  The simple answer to this is that anyone who has been infected with herpes can spread the virus. Adults, particularly elderly people, frequently develop shingles after contact with children with chicken pox (herpes varicella-zoster).

  There are methods to avoid spreading the virus, and most of these are simple common sense. If you have open sores, avoid direct contact with others, particularly newborn babies. Simply refrain from kissing them and avoid touching them unless you have just washed your hands.

  Tell your partner, avoid sex when the disease is active and always use a condom. Even the cold sore can infect the genitals, so refrain from oral sex.