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Confusion about symptoms of initial HSV-1 infection.
I'm confused about the symptoms of initial infection. The dictionary says there may be no symptoms or mouth ulcers, and the doctors of this site state that initial symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, fever, blisters, etc. I've read they may include headache, fatigue, and muscle ache. Can someone summarize the symptoms of initial infection as opposed to recurrent infections?
In the past I tested negative for HSV 1 and 2. I had a recent encounter with kissing, protected sex, and unprotected oral sex. Her std status was unknown. 3 days after the encounter I burned the inside of my mouth and developed a canker sore, which I get frequently. One day later, a 5mm region at the cusp of my upper lip began twitching. The twitching was intermittent, visible, and vigorous, with some mild numbness/tingliness. The next day (day 4) I had a swollen, sensitive lymph node in my neck. Now, 10 days after the encounter and 6 days after the first twitching, I have a slight numbness in that same portion of the upper lip, very minor twitching, and slightly swollen nodes. The canker sore is on track to be healed in my usual 14 days.
Canker sores and swollen nodes appear to be linked to initial infection. However, other symptoms of HSV were not present: blisters, redness, swelling, sensitivity/discomfort, pain, fever, nausea, headache, etc. Is twitching an HSV symptom?
I have no other conclusive symptoms thus far. I have several blood tests 6 weeks out, at which point I will consult with my PCP. I will retest at 3.5 months. Due to my good baseline data the results should be telling. I'm just trying to be patient and not worry about this too much, since short of an outbreak, the tests will provide the only conclusive results. But, I'd love to hear any opinions, particularly as they relate to initial infections that are largely asymptomatic (in terms of blisters) and the likelihood and timing of subsequent outbreaks in the near or long term.
In the past I tested negative for HSV 1 and 2. I had a recent encounter with kissing, protected sex, and unprotected oral sex. Her std status was unknown. 3 days after the encounter I burned the inside of my mouth and developed a canker sore, which I get frequently. One day later, a 5mm region at the cusp of my upper lip began twitching. The twitching was intermittent, visible, and vigorous, with some mild numbness/tingliness. The next day (day 4) I had a swollen, sensitive lymph node in my neck. Now, 10 days after the encounter and 6 days after the first twitching, I have a slight numbness in that same portion of the upper lip, very minor twitching, and slightly swollen nodes. The canker sore is on track to be healed in my usual 14 days.
Canker sores and swollen nodes appear to be linked to initial infection. However, other symptoms of HSV were not present: blisters, redness, swelling, sensitivity/discomfort, pain, fever, nausea, headache, etc. Is twitching an HSV symptom?
I have no other conclusive symptoms thus far. I have several blood tests 6 weeks out, at which point I will consult with my PCP. I will retest at 3.5 months. Due to my good baseline data the results should be telling. I'm just trying to be patient and not worry about this too much, since short of an outbreak, the tests will provide the only conclusive results. But, I'd love to hear any opinions, particularly as they relate to initial infections that are largely asymptomatic (in terms of blisters) and the likelihood and timing of subsequent outbreaks in the near or long term.
Update on my symptoms... My twitching subsided but has continued to date. Right now it happens about once an hour for a minute or so. It feels like neuropathy (numbness), but if I look closely I can see the actual movement or that portion of the lip.
My lymph nodes went down but have swollen up on a couple of days (it's now 11 days since they first became swollen. Otherwise, no symptoms particularly indicative of initial HSV - no sore throat, blisters, ulcers, fever, headache, etc. I did some research on my own, and the consensus in the research appears to be that intial HSV infection is clinically asymptomatic in 60% of cases, but that when symptomatic, the initial outbreak is usually the most severe. Therefore my case is indeterminate without testing or clearer symptoms. Further, it seems that initial infections are more likely to be symptomatic in mouth with blisters on the inner lips, gums, tongue, cheeks, or throat, than on the outer lips.
Regarding mouth ulcers and HSV-1, information suggested that HSV-mouth ulcers are the latter stage of erupted HSV vesicles/papules. That is, a patient will first have painful, inflamed vesicles inside the mouth which will then rupture and coalesce into gray ulcers (as opposed to labial blisters that will rupture and then crust over). It wasn't clear, but it seemed to suggest that later blisters would form on the outer part of the lips, rather than inside the mouth.
The confusing part is that the literature was non-specific about the likelihood of any given permutation of symptoms. This seems to be because clinically asymptomatic infections are (by definition) seldom diagnosed. Instead, researchers ask people to try to recall their initial infections, in a sometimes guess and check manner, "do you remember having a sore throar?" etc etc. The best data points seem to come from pediatric diagnoses, where the parents presumably have better information on the child's history of infection.
Penny, almost every site I looked at (of some 15) stated that symptoms of subsequent outbreaks tend to be less severe in individuals with healthy immune systems. So, in my non-medically trained opinion, you should expect milder symptoms over time. Further, menstruation is positively correlated with outbreaks, so the two could be connected.
For my case, I saw my doctor again today who gave me an HSV swap in my throat, along with a strep throat swap and a mononucleosis blood test. We still plan to do an antibody test in four more weeks.
My lymph nodes went down but have swollen up on a couple of days (it's now 11 days since they first became swollen. Otherwise, no symptoms particularly indicative of initial HSV - no sore throat, blisters, ulcers, fever, headache, etc. I did some research on my own, and the consensus in the research appears to be that intial HSV infection is clinically asymptomatic in 60% of cases, but that when symptomatic, the initial outbreak is usually the most severe. Therefore my case is indeterminate without testing or clearer symptoms. Further, it seems that initial infections are more likely to be symptomatic in mouth with blisters on the inner lips, gums, tongue, cheeks, or throat, than on the outer lips.
Regarding mouth ulcers and HSV-1, information suggested that HSV-mouth ulcers are the latter stage of erupted HSV vesicles/papules. That is, a patient will first have painful, inflamed vesicles inside the mouth which will then rupture and coalesce into gray ulcers (as opposed to labial blisters that will rupture and then crust over). It wasn't clear, but it seemed to suggest that later blisters would form on the outer part of the lips, rather than inside the mouth.
The confusing part is that the literature was non-specific about the likelihood of any given permutation of symptoms. This seems to be because clinically asymptomatic infections are (by definition) seldom diagnosed. Instead, researchers ask people to try to recall their initial infections, in a sometimes guess and check manner, "do you remember having a sore throar?" etc etc. The best data points seem to come from pediatric diagnoses, where the parents presumably have better information on the child's history of infection.
Penny, almost every site I looked at (of some 15) stated that symptoms of subsequent outbreaks tend to be less severe in individuals with healthy immune systems. So, in my non-medically trained opinion, you should expect milder symptoms over time. Further, menstruation is positively correlated with outbreaks, so the two could be connected.
For my case, I saw my doctor again today who gave me an HSV swap in my throat, along with a strep throat swap and a mononucleosis blood test. We still plan to do an antibody test in four more weeks.
I just find out that I have HSV 1, and HSV 6 but not HSV 2, I have never had any symptoms of Herpes, ther reason I did the testing it was because I feel tired all the time CFS. So I gues after you go trough the inital stage you probably will not have any problems. I do not recall any severe infalamtion on my neck or any sore troath related to this problem, I am 48 yrs old.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Just for the record, research has not supported any connection between menstrual periods and herpes outbreaks though individuals do report a connection for them, though there is no consistency about WHEN in the menstrual cycle various people experience recurrences.
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Terri
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Terri
hi, i was diagnosed with hsv1 and had painful 1st outbreak before my period , next month same thing only less of a sore but first symptom for me is extreme tiredness and dull headache then the sore.. my question is i've had no outbreaks for 2 months but this month i got the same very tired feeling and headach also agitation ,,, no outbreak,,, could this be ?? symptoms with no actual sore
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
If you are negative for HSV 1 and HSV 2, and recently got new HSV 1 infection, I think you might be more symptomatic than you are describing. Remember that canker sores are not herpes, we don't know what causes canker sores. But they can certainly cause lymph node swelling in the neck.
Twitching by itself is not necessarily related to HSV 1 infection.
In your lifetime, you will kiss many people with oral HSV 1 infection - some will know they are infected, most will not, some will have symptoms, most will not. Probably best to try not to obsess too much about this.
You can retest again if you wish, but if that is also negative, I would recommend that you stop testing and believe that you don't have oral HSV 1.
Terri
Twitching by itself is not necessarily related to HSV 1 infection.
In your lifetime, you will kiss many people with oral HSV 1 infection - some will know they are infected, most will not, some will have symptoms, most will not. Probably best to try not to obsess too much about this.
You can retest again if you wish, but if that is also negative, I would recommend that you stop testing and believe that you don't have oral HSV 1.
Terri
You are reading content posted in the Herpes Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
