Synonyms: oral herpes labialis, cold sore
Of the herpes viruses, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is usually the cause of oral infection. After primary infection, HSV-1 becomes latent, usually in the dorsal root ganglia of the trigeminal nerve. Rarely, herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) may cause primary infection of the oral cavity, typically in association with orogenital sex; however, recurrent oral HSV-2 disease is rare.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original article at https://patient.info/doctor/oral-herpes-simplex