Herpes simplex virus (HSV) causes painful sores that become ulcers on the mouth, nose, genitals, buttocks, anus and other skin areas. There are two types of HSV, Type 1 and Type 2. HSV-Type 1 is most likely to cause infection of the mouth or fever blisters. The virus can be spread from the mouth to the genitals. Some symptoms associated with HSV-1 may resemble the flu, especially during an initial outbreak of the herpes.
Fever
After contracting the virus, an individual may experience a mild to moderate fever. This can be accompanied by swollen glands and the chills. The fever is the result of the immune system attempting to fight off the virus. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMM), the fever may appear before, during or after the herpes have appeared. Some individuals may experience a fever without the presence of lesions during the initial outbreak, but it is not likely that flu-like symptoms will appear without lesions during recurrent episodes.
Aches and Pains
The UMM points out that some individuals will experience a headache, muscle aches, trouble swallowing and pain at the site of an outbreak. These symptoms may occur shortly after contracting the virus in the initial outbreak, or they may occur right before a second cluster of lesions appear, as indicated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the UMM, these symptoms are less likely with HSV-1 than they are with HSV-2. It is possible to develop an outbreak of herpes during a cold or flu, but the UMM explains that the body stress is what causes the outbreak. This suggests that the cold or flu is not the result of the virus but instead a trigger of the lesions.
Other Symptoms
As the body fights the infection, an individual may experience fatigue. It is also common for men and women to have trouble urinating or for women to experience vaginal discharge, but this is more common with HSV-2, according to UMM. Bad breath and increased salivation are more common with HSV Type 1.
