What are the Symptoms and Signs of Herpes?

In most cases, people with herpes do not show any symptoms and thus will not know if they are infected unless tested. When symptoms appear, they are mostly mouth sores and genital sores.

Herpes Might Not Have Symptoms

It is common for people to get infected with herpes and not know it. This is largely because of the lack of symptoms. There are many people who have confused herpes symptoms with the flu, ingrown hair, and pimples.

Symptoms of herpes will come and go, however, that does not mean that the infection is gone. It is still possible to spread the herpes virus even in the absence of symptoms.

Symptoms of Genital Herpes

The most common symptoms of genital herpes include painful blisters that appear on the penis, inner thigh, vulva, butt, anus, and cervix. The following might also be experienced:

• Burning when urinating if the urine comes into contact with the sores.

• Difficulty urinating due to blocking of the urethra caused by sore swelling.

• Pain near your genitals

• Itching

If the herpes infection is caused by HSV-2, you might also experience symptoms that mimic the flu including:

• Swollen glands in your throat, under arm, and pelvis area.

• Achiness and fatigue.

• Fever

• Chills

• Headache  

When the blisters and other symptoms show up, it is referred to as an outbreak, initial herpes or first episode. This outbreak usually happens after 2 to 20 days of initial infection. It might take years for some people before getting the first outbreak.

The first outbreak will mostly last between 2 to 4 weeks. The symptoms will disappear but the virus will still remain in the body and cause occasional outbreaks. In some cases, the symptoms will be preceded by indicators such as tingly feeling, itching and burning around your genitals.

Herpes outbreaks are painful and annoying, but it's the first one that will be intense. The following outbreaks will be less painful and less frequent. Some people will stop having the outbreaks with time.

People with other illnesses such as HIV or leukemia might experience stronger and longer symptoms.

Oral Herpes Symptoms

Oral Herpes is less painful when compared to genital herpes and will rarely make you feel sick. Oral Herpes will cause sores or blisters around your mouth and lips and are commonly known as fever blisters or cold sores. There might be sores inside your mouth but this will mostly happen during the first symptoms.

Cold sores may appear again after days, weeks, months or years. Though they are painful, they are harmless to kids and adults but quite dangerous to infants.

What Are the Symptoms Of Genital Herpes In Men?

Genital herpes in men comes with different symptoms but the most common include a cluster of sores on the penis or anus. They will disappear and come back after some weeks, months, years or never.

For most people, the first outbreak will be more severe than the following outbreaks. Symptoms of genital herpes in men may include:

• Blisters or sores

• Burning when urinating as a result of the sores.

• Itching around the genital areas.

• Difficulty urinating due to a swollen urethra.

When experiencing the first outbreak, you might also experience:

• Swollen glands in your throat, under arm, and pelvis area.

• achiness and fatigue like the flu

• General rundown feeling.

• Fever

• Chills

• Headache  

The first outbreak will mostly last between 2 to 4 weeks. The symptoms will disappear but the virus will still remain in the body and cause occasional outbreaks.

The most sure way to know if you have herpes is to get tested. The doctor might diagnose you by looking at the signs and symptoms or through a blood test.

What are Genital Herpes Signs In Women?

The only sure way to know if you have the herpes virus is to get checked by a medical practitioner.

Genital herpes in women comes with different symptoms but the most common include a cluster of sores on the vulva, cervix or anus.

The sores will last for a couple of days or weeks then disappear and appear after weeks, months, years or never. A medical practitioner will observe the sores and tell you if they are caused by the herpes virus. They might also take a liquid sample from the sore to test for the herpes simplex virus.

For most people, the first outbreak will be more severe than the following outbreaks. Symptoms of genital herpes in women may include:

• Blisters or sores

• Burning when urinating as a result of the sores.

• Itching around the genital areas.

• Difficulty urinating due to a swollen urethra.

When experiencing the first outbreak, you might also experience:

• Swollen glands in your throat, under arm, and pelvis area.

• Achiness and fatigue like the flu

• General rundown feeling.

• Fever

• Chills

• Headache  

The first outbreak will mostly last between 2 to 4 weeks. The symptoms will disappear but the virus will still remain in the body and cause occasional outbreaks. It is also possible that the symptoms might never show up again.

It is difficult to project how frequent the outbreaks will happen, but you can use medications to reduce the pain, duration and frequency of the outbreaks.