Final answer:
The technical name for fever blisters is herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). These cold sores are a common and contagious condition that can recur throughout a person's life.
Step-by-step explanation:
The technical name for fever blister is herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). These cold sores are red, fluid-filled blisters that often appear near the mouth or on other areas of the face. Infection by HSV-1 can lead to recurrent episodes of these painful blisters, which can be triggered by factors such as stress or environmental conditions.
Although the visible sores eventually heal, the virus remains dormant in the body, within the trigeminal nerve ganglia and can reactivate, leading to new outbreaks. HSV-1 is highly contagious and can be spread even when sores are not visible. It should be noted that while HSV-1 typically causes oral lesions herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is commonly responsible for genital herpes; however, both viruses can infect either location.