Herpes is a virus that lives in the nervous system and the herpes symptoms shows up periodically on the skin. The virus called herpes simplex virus (HSV), which causes cold sores (fever blisters) on the lips and in the mouth, and genital herpes on the genitals, buttocks, thighs, or abdomen. Herpes zoster, which is another kind of herpes virus, causes chickenpox and shingles. In rare cases, the virus can transfer to other body parts. Below is some information about herpes symptoms.

Up to 75% of infected people never have any herpes symptoms, or have symptoms so mild they hardly notice them, but are capable of transmitting the virus to others (asymptomatic viral shedding). The infected area might become inflamed; it might hurt, itch, or tingle. Then, typically, one or more fluid-filled blisters appear, along with flu-like symptoms, such as muscle aches, fever, and swollen glands. The blisters might burst and form open sores, and then crust over and heal in a few days or weeks. Depending on the location of the sores, they might cause pain or burning during urination. You can’t always see herpes on yourself or on a partner, however, because it might be inside the vagina or anus.

Outbreak

If herpes symptoms do occur, they generally appear within 2 to 20 days after virus invades the body. At the beginning, it might be so mild it goes unnoticed, and then the infected area might become inflamed, making the skin red and sensitive. Then one or more fluid-filled blisters typically appear (Blisters or bumps might appear on the genital area), along with flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, lower back pain, muscle aches, malaise, vaginal or penis discharge, and swollen lymph glands, etc.. The blisters might burst and form open sores. These crust over and heal within a few days or weeks eventually. Depending on the location of the sores, they might cause pain or burning during urination. You can’t always see herpes on yourself or on a partner, however, because it might be inside the vagina or anus, if it is genital herpes. The infected area including: penis, vulva, anus, pubis, thigh and buttocks or anywhere around the genital area.

Recurrent

After the herpes symptoms of an infection are gone, however, the virus remains within us for life. It escapes from the body’s immune defenses, and retreat along nerve cells and lay low, or dormant, for a while. Then the virus springs back into action for some special. Usually it re-appears on the entry site, where it triggers a new outbreak of sores. Typically, the second outbreak occurs 3 to 6 months after the first. But, the frequency and severity of recurrences would vary greatly from person to person. Some people have only two or three recurrences in a year; others may have many recurrences with many painful blisters. Generally, however, the first attack usually should be the worst, and the recurrences would become less frequent and less severe when time goes. Shingles is caused by varicella zoster virus (VZV), which is a double-stranded DNA virus related to the Herpes simplex virus group.