Caused by a viral infection of the Herpes Simplex Viruses or HSV, with the arrival of the herpes symptoms, the doctor and the patient know that there has been an infection. But herpes symptoms can differ in degree from one person to another and also in the time it takes for them to appear. While in some the herpes symptoms can take just a couple of days to appear, in others, it can sometimes take months. Also, the first symptoms are so light that often it becomes difficult to identify that these are actually symptoms of herpes. But there are those in whom the herpes symptoms are strong right from the very beginning itself. Does it mean that in them, the infection is deeper than others? Well, that is not the case.

Yes that is the reality. The disease is surprisingly common in the US and beyond and according to studies, as many as 50 percent of the adult population suffer from the infection at least sometime in their lives. So naturally, herpes symptoms are also quite common.

The Herpes Simplex or the HSV virus can be further classified as HSV 1 and HSV 2. HSV 1 causes oral herpes that is also known as cold sores.

When someone is infected with HSV 1, the person is likely to get herpes symptoms in the face or the mouth area. In the beginning there is just a little bit of itching or burning in the nose or the mouth. And then it started to become red - the blisters containing fluids start to appear at this stage. There may be just one or two blisters, or a cluster of many. The blisters also tend to vary in size.

An infection with HSV 2 on the other hand causes genital herpes and the herpes symptoms for this appear in the genital areas of men and women. However it has been seen that ladies have a higher risk of getting the disease than their male counterparts. HSV 2 is basically a sexually transmitted disease that spreads through sexual contact with an affected person.

Herpes symptoms of HSV 2 in men are mostly in the penis or the areas close to it. But in ladies, the symptoms of genital herpes in the form of lesions can be both outside and inside the vagina. When they are inside the vagina, it can lead to white discharge. So that is also a clear sign of herpes symptoms. Internal lesions are difficult to see as well.

No matter whether it is HSV 1 or HSV 2, or a man or a woman, some symptoms of herpes are common for all. Such as:

- Lymph glands getting inflamed

- A constant headache

- Pain in the body including the lower back

- Fever

- The genitals seem like burning

- Problems and pain during urination

- Discharge from the vagina and the penis