「唇瘡」精讀班 Intensive Class on Cold Sore
「嘴唇又生水泡，點解又喺我……」相信唔少人都經歷過唇瘡問題，但究竟乜野係唇瘡呢？點解唇瘡會成日復發呢？如果你心入面出現好多個問題，咁你就要上「唇瘡」精讀班喇！
“I got blister on the lip again, why always me…” Many people have had encountered cold sore. But what is a cold sore actually? Why do cold sores keep recurrent? If you have the above questions, let’s join our cold sore intensive class now!
乜野是「唇瘡」？What is a cold sore?
其實唇瘡係由疱疹一型病毒引起嘅感染，曾經受感染嘅患者，病毒會潛伏喺身體內，當身體嘅抵抗力下降時，例如壓力大、疲勞過度或感冒，病毒就會變得活躍，造成感染。
Cold sores are usually caused by Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 (HSV-1). Once infected, the virus can hardly be eradicated. It lies dormant in nerve roots. When your immune system is weakened, like when you are under pressure or get a cold or flu, the virus will become active again and lead to infection.
症狀 Signs and symptoms
唇瘡通常會出現喺嘴唇邊緣，佢嘅分泌物含有疱疹一型病毒，具有傳染性。當唇瘡出現，患者會感到痕癢和灼熱，患處會出現一撮小水泡。當水泡破裂後，會變為潰瘍。而唇瘡一般會喺兩星期內自然痊癒。
Cold sores usually develop on the lip or around the mouth. The small fluid-filled blisters contain HSV-1, which is contagious. The symptoms of discomfort, itchiness, tingling and burning may occur in the skin before the appearance of the cold sore. Blisters are then developed on top of the inflamed skin. When blisters break down and crust, it will become lkl/mm a lesion. Cold sores normally will heal within 2 weeks.
預防方法 Preventive measures
唇瘡患者應盡量保持患處清潔，避免用手觸碰患處，以免傷口感染細菌。如果觸碰後應立即洗手，以免身體其他部分受到病毒感染，例如眼睛受到感染會引致角膜炎。飲食方面，應盡量避免進食辛辣嘅食物，以免刺激患處。
Patients should keep the affected area clean and avoid touching by hands to prevent bacterial infection. You should wash your hand after touching the affected area to prevent viral transmission to other body parts. For example, conjunctivitis may occur if the eye is infected. For diet, spicy and irritating food should be avoided to prevent local irritation.
藥物處理 Medication management
藥物方面，含抗病毒成份Acyclovir嘅唇瘡膏能夠針對疱疹一型病毒，能夠有效阻止疱疹一型病毒擴散。患者應盡早於唇瘡初起時使用，以達至最佳效果。含Acyclovir成份嘅唇瘡膏需要喺藥房有藥劑師當值嘅情況下先至能夠購買，使用前應先諮詢藥劑師嘅意見。
Anti-viral cream, containing active ingredient acyclovir, is effective treatment for HSV-1. Patient should use the cream in the beginning stage when a cold sore develops. Acyclovir cream is a pharmacy-only medicine which can only be purchased in a pharmacy in the presence of a pharmacist. You are recommended to consult pharmacist first before using the cream.
屈臣氏藥劑師團隊
Watsons Pharmacy Team
