Cold sores-an epidemiological survey

A survey was carried out in a general practice in North Wales to determine the incidence, frequency, duration, and severity of cold sores. Of the 1,855 adults interviewed, 46 per cent gave a definite history of having had a cold sore at some time while 28 per cent continued to have one or more a year. More than half of the latter considered their sores of moderate or severe inconvenience.