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Warning-sign checks

Herpes - oral: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Seek emergency medical care for:

    • Eye pain, marked redness, sensitivity to light, or a change in vision
    • Confusion, a seizure, severe drowsiness, or a severe headache with neck stiffness
    • Signs of severe dehydration, such as minimal urine, fainting, or inability to drink
    • Blisters, fever, poor feeding, or unusual sleepiness in a newborn
    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
    • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Get urgent medical advice if sores are spreading quickly, involve large areas of eczema, or occur while your immune system is severely weakened.

  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    Arrange routine medical care if:

    • You are unsure whether a sore is herpes
    • A first episode is very painful or makes eating difficult
    • A sore is not beginning to heal after about 10 days
    • Outbreaks are frequent, severe, or affecting daily life
    • There is increasing redness, swelling, pus, or worsening pain
    • You want advice about reducing transmission to a partner

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Herpes - oral. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.