Is herpes labialis (cold sores) contagious?

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Last updated: September 23, 2026 • View editorial policy

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Oo, nakakahawa ang herpes labialis (cold sores)

Ang herpes labialis ay lubhang nakakahawa at madaling kumalat sa ibang tao. Ang impeksyong ito ay sanhi ng herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) at maaaring maipasa sa iba kahit walang makikitang sugat 1.

Paano Kumakalat ang Impeksyon

Ang HSV-1 ay pinakamataas ang viral load sa unang 24 oras pagkatagang lumabas ang sugat, lalo na kapag nasa vesicular stage (may tubig-tubig na paltos) 1. Ang virus ay kumakalat sa pamamagitan ng:

  • Direktang contact sa sugat o lesion
  • Non-sexual contact - ito ang tradisyonal na paraan ng pagkalat, lalo na sa mga bata at teenagers 1
  • Viral shedding - maaaring maglabas ng virus kahit walang makikitang sintomas

Gaano Kalaganap ang Impeksyon

Ang HSV-1 ay napakalaganap sa buong mundo. Sa Australia, 76% ng populasyon ay may HSV-1 antibodies, mas mataas pa sa kababaihan (80.4%) kaysa sa kalalakihan (71.3%) 1. Ang mataas na seroprevalence na ito ay nagpapakita kung gaano kadaling kumalat ang virus.

Mahalagang Paalala para Maiwasan ang Pagkalat

Iwasan ang mga sumusunod habang may active lesions:

  • Huwag humalik o magkaroon ng close contact sa iba
  • Huwag magshare ng mga gamit tulad ng baso, kutsara, liptint, o tuwalya
  • Hugasan ang kamay madalas, lalo na pagkatapos hawakan ang sugat
  • Huwag galawin o kamutin ang sugat para hindi kumalat sa ibang parte ng katawan

Kailan Pinaka-Nakakahawa

Ang peak viral shedding ay nangyayari sa unang 24 oras mula nang lumabas ang lesion 1. Habang tumatagal at nagiging ulcer/crust na ang sugat, unti-unting bumababa ang viral load. Gayunpaman, maaari pa ring makahawa kahit nasa healing stage na.

Karagdagang Impormasyon

Ang HSV-1 ay nananatiling latent sa sensory ganglia pagkatapos ng initial infection 1. Maaari itong mag-reactivate dahil sa stress, lagnat, UV light exposure, o menstruation, kaya paulit-ulit na lumalabas ang cold sores 1, 2.

Ang antiviral therapy (tulad ng famciclovir, valaciclovir, o aciclovir) ay nakakatulong na bawasan ang viral shedding at pabilisin ang paggaling, na nakakatulong din para hindi kumalat sa iba 1.

References

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