What are the symptoms of Herpes Simplex?

In this section

Men and women with Herpes Simplex infection are usually asymptomatic and unaware of the infection though some will have characteristic lesions on their skin or may experience pain when the infection is active.

Men and Women with herpes simplex infection might notice:

• Nothing – 80% are silent
• Local symptoms such as painful ulceration, dysuria, vaginal or urethral discharge.
• Systemic symptoms such as fever and myalgia (muscle pain) are much more common in primary than in initial or recurrent disease.
• Blistering and ulceration of the external genitalia (+/- cervix/rectum)
• Tender inguinal lymphadenitis, usually bilateral – painful lymph glands in the groins

In first episodes, lesions and lymphadenitis are usually bilateral. In recurrent disease, it is usual for lesions to affect favoured sites. They may alternate between sides but are usually unilateral for each episode. Lymphadenitis occurs in around 30%.

In this guide