Do I Have Herpes Simplex?

Do you have painful, fluid-filled blisters on and around your lips, in your mouth or on your genitals?

Do you feel burning and itching in the affected area?

Do you have blisters that leak fluid and form a crust?

Do you feel your skin tingling, itching, or burning for a day or so before the blisters appear?

Do your blisters scab and heal within a few weeks?

Do you have cracked, raw, or red areas around your mouth or your genitals without pain, itching, or tingling?

Do your blisters or ulcers periodically recur?

Do you have fever or muscle aches?

Do you have swollen lymph nodes in the neck or groins?

Do you have trouble urinating or a burning feeling during urination?

Do you have a headache?

Do you feel tired and have poor appetite?

Do you have an eye pain, discharge, and a gritty feeling in the eye?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have herpes simplex. Herpes simplex is a contagious, viral infection caused by herpes simplex virus or HSV. There are two types of herpes simplex virus: HSV-1 and HSV-2. Both types of HSV can cause herpetic sores on your face or genitals, but commonly HSV-1 is the cause of oral herpes, and HSV-2 causes most cases of genital herpes. The virus can be spread by skin-to-skin contact, sharing cutlery, lip balms, kissing and sexual contact. It is estimated that 67 percent of people under the age of 49 have the virus in their blood, but may never experience an outbreak.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have herpes simplex. Herpes simplex is a contagious medical condition caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). When exposed to the virus, anyone can become infected, regardless of age. Some people may have only one outbreak, while in others the virus can reactivate causing recurrent outbreaks. Herpes simplex outbreaks can be triggered by stress, sunburn, menstrual periods or illness. It usually develops around the mouth or on the genitals, but the sores can appear almost anywhere on your skin. Diagnosis is based on a physical exam, laboratory testing of sores swab and blood tests.

n Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have herpes simplex. Herpes simplex is an infectious disease caused by a herpes simplex virus (HSV). It cannot be cured, and sometimes the sores may heal without any treatment. However, there are a number of treatment options that can relieve your symptoms and shorten an outbreak. Your doctor may recommend different types of antiviral medications (creams, ointments, tablets or injections). Most people have a number of outbreaks, which over time tend to be milder and less frequent due to the production of antibodies to the virus. Healthy adults with herpes simplex usually do not have serious complications.