An estimated 45 to 80 percent of adults and children in this country have had at least one bout with the blisters. The whole Pokemon craze is a bit of a sore spot for Wendy Hessinger. Now, Hessinger notes, the feverish interest seems to have passed as quickly as it started. It was innocent fun, but costly fun. Individual attacks of cold sores last one to two weeks.
Recurrences are common.
What is happening in the Hessinger household is not unusual. Anecdotal evidence suggests legions of Pokemon-enthralled youngsters are shelving their spiral binders chock full of precious Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle and Poliwag game cards. Gone is the frenzy of trading that turned squeaky-voiced adolescents into cutthroat commodities traders and Soccer Moms into fair trade overseers. But I'll bet it's half of what it used to be. Call it a dormant phase.