Herpes Symptoms: Oral (Cold Sores) & Genital - Causes & Treatment

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) typically causes oral herpes, also called cold sores or fever blisters. Symptoms may include:

- Small, painful blisters on or around the mouth or lips

- Fever

- Swollen lymph nodes

- Sore throat

- Headache

- Muscle aches

- Fatigue

After the initial infection, the virus can remain dormant in the body and reactivate later, causing recurrent outbreaks of cold sores.

Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) typically causes genital herpes. Symptoms may include:

- Small, painful blisters on the genitals, buttocks, or thighs

- Fever

- Swollen lymph nodes

- Painful urination

- Difficulty walking or sitting

- Headache

- Muscle aches

- Fatigue

After the initial infection, the virus can remain dormant in the body and reactivate later, causing recurrent outbreaks of genital herpes.

In some cases, herpes simplex virus can also cause infections of the eyes, brain, or other parts of the body. These infections can be serious and require medical treatment.