You might call them cold sores or canker sores or maybe fever blisters. Whatever they’re called in your house, if you get them, you’re in the company of about ninety-five million other Americans who suffer from the virus that causes cold sores. The scientific name for this virus is herpes simplex, type one. Although it is a relative of herpes simplex two, more commonly known as genital herpes, its effects are usually less serious. As soon as this herpes virus begins producing a cold sore, the body’s immune system manufactures antibodies and white blood cells to combat the virus. The immune system may be able to win the battle against an individual cold sore, but it can never win the war against the virus that causes the cold sore. Even after the cold sore is completely healed, the virus remains hiding in the body in a resting, or latent phase. If triggered, this latent virus will begin the cycle again and cause another outbreak.