Prodrome — The Warning Tingle Before the Sore
Placeholder: early nerve signal precedes visible lesion.
- 6–24 hrs: Typical duration (Placeholder short note)
- Low-mod: Shedding risk (Placeholder short note)
- Tingling: Symptom (Placeholder short note)
- Start antiviral: Best action (Placeholder short note)
What happens during prodrome
Placeholder: virus reactivates and travels to skin surface.
Vesicle and Ulcer Stage — Peak Viral Shedding
Placeholder: fluid-filled blisters carry the most infectious virus.
- 2–4 days: Typical duration (Placeholder short note)
- Highest: Shedding risk (Placeholder short note)
- Open sore: Symptom (Placeholder short note)
- Avoid contact: Best action (Placeholder short note)
Why this stage is riskiest
Placeholder: exposed fluid contains high viral titers.
Placeholder: avoid kissing and sharing utensils now.
Crusting Stage — Risk Steadily Declines
Placeholder: scab formation reduces but does not eliminate risk.
- 3–5 days: Typical duration (Placeholder short note)
- Moderate: Shedding risk (Placeholder short note)
- Scab: Symptom (Placeholder short note)
- Keep covered: Best action (Placeholder short note)
Handling the crusting phase
Placeholder: avoid picking the scab to limit spread.
Fully Healed — Contact Risk Returns to Baseline
Placeholder: new skin means minimal but nonzero risk remains.
- Day 8–12: Typical onset (Placeholder short note)
- Minimal: Shedding risk (Placeholder short note)
- None visible: Symptom (Placeholder short note)
- Resume normal: Best action (Placeholder short note)
Residual asymptomatic shedding
Placeholder: rare viral shedding can persist without symptoms.
Shared Objects and Direct Contact — Practical Precautions
Placeholder: cups, towels, and kissing are common transmission routes.
- Direct contact: Key vector (Placeholder short note)
- Shared items: Key vector (Placeholder short note)
- No sharing: Precaution (Placeholder short note)
- Hand hygiene: Precaution (Placeholder short note)
Everyday precautions that matter
Placeholder: separate towels, cups, and avoid kissing until healed.
Placeholder: precautions cut transmission risk substantially.