Herpes Symptoms

Soon after you are initially infected with the herpes, virus you may experience symptoms. You may feel some or all of these symptoms for several days, or you may not notice any symptoms at all. Whether or not it is the initial infection, first outbreak, or recurring outbreak, it is imperative to recognize the symptoms of the herpes infection early so you can begin to manage this condition as soon as possible.

Initial Herpes Symptoms

• Flu like systemic symptoms such as fever, malaise, loss of appetite and generalized aches and pains.


• Swollen glands in the groin (hard lumps or swollen areas in the area between the abdomen and the tops of the thighs).


• Discharge from the vagina or penis


• Painful or difficult urination

Prodrome

Prior to an outbreak of the herpes virus, you may or may not feel a collection of symptoms called prodrome. Become familiar with your prodrome symptoms because they warn you of an impending outbreak and treatment can be initiated immediately. Prodrome symptoms include:

You may have all, some, or none of these symptoms. The prodrome may last for a few days or for an hour. It is the result of irritation to the neural pathways affected by the HSV. Prodrome symptoms are not always felt at the site of the outbreak. They may be felt in other areas of the body such as the buttocks or legs because of the complicated way the nerve pathways are linked. You can feel prodrome symptoms and then have no lesions. Even without any signs of a blister beginning, HSV can be transmitted during the prodrome. Taking medication at this critical time might lessen the symptoms of the outbreak or be able to stop the outbreak altogether.

Symptoms of the first herpes outbreak

For some unknown reason, women report more severe symptoms with the first outbreak of herpes then men. During the first outbreak, you may also have an elevated temperature, swollen lymph nodes in the groin, and difficult, hesitant, or painful urination. In the course of the first outbreak, evidence of virus on the cervix is found in 80% of women.

• Symptoms of the first outbreak initially start as an area of reddened skin. This progresses to a rash of red, painful ‘bumps’ that look like pimples.


• The pimples quickly progress to painful blisters (vesicles) filled with a straw-colored fluid that contain infectious herpes virus. The size and number of the blisters varies and cause mild to severe pain.


• The blisters then open up leaving raw open sores on the skin. They usually last from one to three weeks, but most are gone in ten to twelve days.


• The blisters will then begin to dry up and become flakey or crusty and scabs will form.


• New skin will grow underneath these scabs and when the scab falls off healing is complete.

Herpes recurring outbreak symptoms

Recurrent outbreaks are generally less debilitating than the initial one. Symptoms that occur are usually milder and more subtle. Prodrome symptoms may or may not precede the onset of visible symptoms. The ulcerated area tends to be smaller with a reduced number of blisters that heal more quickly. Four to six days is the average healing time for untreated recurrences. Fever, malaise and fatigue are usually not symptoms after the initial outbreak, and cervix virus is reduced to around 12%.

Symptoms are different from person to person and also vary from outbreak to outbreak. Specific symptoms that can occur with a recurring herpes outbreak include: