Which disease is characterized by sores caused by herpes simplex virus?

Cold sores, also known as fever blisters, are caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), primarily HSV-1. These sores typically appear on or around the lips and can also occur in the mouth area. After the initial infection, the virus becomes dormant in the body and can reactivate, leading to recurrent outbreaks, often triggered by factors such as stress, illness, or exposure to sunlight.

The other options reference conditions caused by different pathogens or mechanisms. Warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), cancer sores are not a recognized medical term and are often confused with apthous ulcers or canker sores, which are unrelated to herpes, and fungal infections are caused by various types of fungi, not viruses. Therefore, the characteristic sores from herpes simplex virus are specifically identified as cold sores.