Question:
i have a few questions. I was newly diagnosed with type 1 herpes but w/o ever having a breakout of any kind, i had no idea until it came up on a routine blood test. I started taking the valtrex yesterday (2x) a day and today i have a tiny little bump in my mouth, kind of where you would bite your lip if you did. Is every canker sore considered herpes?? is it even possible to get one while taking valtrex?? help !

Answer:
canker sores are not herpes. Canker sores usually show up inside of your mouth on the soft tissues and when you look at them they are grey in the center with redness around the edge.

You may be mistaking this with coldsores or fever blisters which are usually caused by herpes simplex virus 1 (hsv1). Coldsores can be located on the mouth or can be transmitted to other parts of your body.

Hsv is most contagious right before, during and immediately after an outbreak (ob) and could easily look like a bite or blister on your lip which can swell up and fill with fluid. If you have coldsores try not to touch them and wash your hands well if you do. You can spread them to others by kissing or other kinds of oral contact as well as accidentally spreading it by touching the sores.

Valtrex or other antiviral medications help to stop herpes ob's and to stop the virus from reproducing itself and spreading. Yes, you can still get ob's even when you are taking antiviral medications but they help to reduce the number and severity of them.

Here is a link that can help explain the two herpes simplex viruses.