Herpes Symptoms: Understanding Oral and Genital Herpes

Primary herpes simplex virus (HSV-1 or HSV-2) infection

* Oral herpes (HSV-1)

* Usually occurs in childhood

* Symptoms may include:

* Fever

* Sore throat

* Headache

* Muscle aches

* Fatigue

* Small, painful blisters on the lips, gums, or inside the mouth

* Genital herpes (HSV-1 or HSV-2)

* Can occur at any age, but most commonly affects young adults

* Symptoms may include:

* Fever

* Headache

* Muscle aches

* Fatigue

* Painful blisters on the genitals, buttocks, or thighs

Recurrent herpes simplex virus infection

* Can occur in people who have had a primary HSV-1 or HSV-2 infection

* Symptoms may include:

* Fever

* Headache

* Muscle aches

* Fatigue

* Painful blisters on the lips, gums, inside the mouth, or on the genitals, buttocks, or thighs

Herpes simplex encephalitis

* A rare but serious infection of the brain that can occur in people with HSV-1 or HSV-2

* Symptoms may include:

* Fever

* Headache

* Stiff neck

* Confusion

* Seizures

* Coma

Herpes simplex neonatal infection

* A rare but serious infection that can occur in newborns who are infected with HSV-1 or HSV-2 during childbirth

* Symptoms may include:

* Fever

* Seizures

* Skin lesions

* Eye infections

* Brain damage