Anita - this is likely herpes simplex one, and it is a virus that is with you all the time, but at times of stress when your immune system is not up to speed, it has a chance to rear itself into an outbreak. Get your doc to write her an Rx for Valtrex, 500 mg, and these greatly reduce the number of outbreaks and can be taken preventively under times of physical or emotional stress. For outbreaks on the lips I have found that Abreva (OTC) ointment works well for shortening the period of activity. HSV1 has a duration period of about 10 to 14 days. There is no cure for it, and the virus lives on the ganglia of the nerves, mostly unilaterally.

Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.