Really bad fever blister. Should I call in?

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I have a REALLY bad fever blister from being Out in the sun too long. It's terrible. I'm embarrassed about it. Should I call in?

Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
That is what a "fever blister" is. An HSV lesion on the lip.

Yes, true but from the first post it could easily been a sunburn since there were no other identifying features.

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Specializes in PICU, Pediatrics, Trauma.
A number of years ago I took report in ICU on a Friday evening at 7 pm from a nurse who had a fever blister/cold sore on her lip that was the size of a dime.

By the following Wednesday, I had shingles.

While I had been taking report, I recall thinking to myself that it didn't seem too wise to be providing patient care with a giant fever blister.

That nurse apparently had shed her virus all over the patient's room, and probably all around the unit.

I ended up on acyclovir, which cost $60 out of pocket in 1990. It was not covered by my employer's insurance at that time, as it was associated with treatment for genital herpes, and was regarded as a condition that an individual was supposed to be able to prevent, behaviorally.

Anyway, I did have to use sick time, and missed work. The infectious nurse? Her fever blister had dried up and she was permitted to continue working with no mandatory sick time.

So, yes, stay home - or at least find out your institution's policy.

You don't get shingles (Herpes Zoster) from someone's "cold sore" (HSV 1 most commonly, but can be HSV 2). You have shingles as a result of having had Chicken Pox, which lies dormant in the spinal column until triggered/erupts....May never, but often as a result of "stress" or immune system compromise.

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Could the two people going at it give it up please? Everyone's said their peace, no need to beat the dead horse. You're just going to get the thread shut down, which is not fair to the OP.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Could the two people going at it give it up please? Everyone's said their peace, no need to beat the dead horse. You're just going to get the thread shut down, which is not fair to the OP.

I think she long got her answer since she hasn't been back & also went to work.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
That is what a "fever blister" is. An HSV lesion on the lip.

But not everyone uses such terminology. In my area, I've never heard HSV-1 referred to as a "fever blister". I have, however, always heard it referred to as "cold sore".

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
But not everyone uses such terminology. In my area, I've never heard HSV-1 referred to as a "fever blister". I have, however, always heard it referred to as "cold sore".

Same here.

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Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.

Several posts have been edited or deleted to remove off-topic and personal attacking comments. Please stick to the topic.....which is not about anyone's education.

Additional off-topic and /or attacking posts will be deleted and infraction points issued to the offenders.

Carry on respectfully.

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Specializes in Short Term/Skilled.

Too late now, but if it's a coldsore and you work in L&D I would say stay home until it scabs over. Not worth the risk.

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Specializes in ER, Medicine.

Wear a mask or really good concealer.

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I think wearing a mask is the best thing to do.

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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
As for the OP, based on her first initial description, I still took it as a cold sore. The key word was "fever" and not a burn. That is what you should have looked at. Most of our patients use wrong wording all the time, yet we need to figure out what they are trying to describe. Instead of asking questions nicely to further gain info, people went in for the attack and assumed she was not going in due to looks.

It must be regional, but I have not heard of, nor heard a pt. report a "fever blister." When I read the OP, I interpreted this to mean a blister from a sunburn, and I was definitely not thinking it was infective. In hind sight I was clearly wrong, but I took the OP as "I have a blister from a sunburn and I am embarrassed about it." I guess I should find a guide of all the regional lingo that people use for various conditions.

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Specializes in PICU, Pediatrics, Trauma.
Again, if you READ the OP she said she was nervous about her looks. Which made people double guess it being herpes related. Also if she was so concerned with the way she looked it would be similar as a pimple if she was embarrassed of it.

Once more, if you READ the OP you would know it was about looks & it could've been a sunburn since she wasn't worried about contagion at work.

Here's the OP:

Where did she say she was contagious? Where did she say it was herpes related? Where is all this you speak of?

Okay. You are correct in that she did not mention contagiousness. Those of us who are knowledgeable on HSV (many reasons to suspect HSV) were responding in order to educate her on the danger to patients if she were to go into work with an active, weeping lesion. The point of her feeling embarrassed was not my primary concern.

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