Many people who infected with the virus do not realize that they got herpes. A report from CDC shows that 1 in 5 persons in the United States has genital herpes; however, as many as 90% are unaware that they have the virus. This is mainly because many people have very mild herpes symptoms or even no herpes symptoms at all. The following herpes symptoms information will help you to simply recognize your condition by yourself.
The Herpes Symptoms of First Episode
First episodes usually occur within the first two weeks after the virus is transmitted. You may be experiencing an uncomfortable or painful symptoms. Or, perhaps the herpes symptoms are too mild to be noticed.
The “classic” herpes symptoms that most people associate with genital herpes are sores, vesicles, or ulcers. These classic symptoms of genital herpes often look like a small pimples or blisters that eventually crust over and finally scab like a small cut.
During this time, some people will experience a second crop of lesions, and some will experience flu-like symptoms, including fever and swollen glands, particularly in the lymph nodes near the groin. A headache and painful urination also sometimes accompany full-blown symptoms of first episodes.
Again, while first episodes can amount to a major bout with illness, the signs of herpes come in a wide variety – and in some people an initial infection produces mild herpes symptoms or even herpes symptoms that are ignored.
For many people, herpes lesions can so mild that they may be mistaken for:
- insect bites
- abrasions
- yeast infection
- “Jock itch”
. . .and other conditions. In other words, the signs go unrecognized as being caused by genital herpes. Signs and symptoms of herpes can be found on the penis and vulva, near the anus, on the thigh, on the buttocks, and virtually anywhere in the genital area.
Signs and Symptoms of Recurrent Genital Herpes
If you have recently made it through a first episode that consisted of full-blown herpes symptoms, you know something about signs and symptoms of herpes already. The good news is that the first episode is almost always the worst that HSV throws your way. Herpes symptoms of recurrent episodes (when they occur) tend to be milder and heal much more quickly, typically within two to twelve days.
If the first episode produced fairly mild symptoms, then subsequent recurrences will not usually increase in severity. But, as noted earlier, when genital herpes recurs after a first episode, it doesn’t always cause recognizable signs and symptoms.
Some people have recurrent outbreaks with the so-called “classic” blister-like herpes lesions that crust over, or with painful sores. In recurrent herpes, however, this process usually takes about half the time it does in first episodes. In addition, many people have very subtle forms of recurrent herpes that heal up in a matter of days. And lastly, herpes is capable of reactivating without producing any visible lesions (asymptomatic reactivation).
Much of the broad description of herpes “lesions” included above applies to recurrent herpes as well. Lesions may take the form of something resembling:
- a red spot
- a pimple
- an ingrown hair
- razor burn
- hemorrhoids
- insect bite
There’s quite a variety, in short. And while genital herpes certainly can and does cause these signs of infection literally on the genitals (the penis or the vulva) it also can produce signs of infection nearby. Herpes sores on or between the buttocks are common (and sometimes slow to heal), as are lesions on the thigh. Herpes can bring about what feels like a tiny fissure around the anus, something easily confused with hemorrhoids. So remember: recurring herpes symptoms in the genital or anal area could well be herpes lesions.
Because signs can vary a great deal, we recommend you go and check with your doctors to see whether it is herpes. Timely and proper herpes cure and treatment can relieve the herpes symptoms and discomfort.
More information about Herpes Common Symptoms: http://www.webmd.com/genital-herpes/guide/common-symptoms
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