During an assessment of a 26-year-old for "a spot on my lip I think is cancer," the clinic nurse notices a group of clear vesicles with an erythematous base around them located at the lip-skin border. The patient mentions that she just returned from Hawaii. What is the most appropriate action by the nurse?

A) Tell the patient she needs to see a skin specialist.
B) Discuss the benefits of having a biopsy performed on any unusual lesion.
C) Tell the patient that these vesicles are indicative of herpes simplex I or cold sores and that they will heal in 4 to 10 days.
D) Tell the patient that these vesicles are most likely the result of a riboflavin deficiency and discuss nutrition.

Question

Muhammad Usman · Accepted Answer

Final Answer : C, Explanation :  Cold sores are groups of clear vesicles with a surrounding erythematous base. These evolve into pustules or crusts and heal in 4 to 10 days. The most likely site is the lip-skin junction. Infection often recurs in the same site. Recurrent herpes infections may be precipitated by sunlight, fever, colds, or allergy.

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