Canker sores and HSV symptoms

About a month ago i fell very ill (fever, diarrhea (only at onset of illness), diagnosed sinus infection, and bronchitis).  During that time i also developed several canker sores in my mouth.  At the time i really didn't think much of all of this because just prior to illness i was in an immune weakening setting (lots of staying up late partying, and LOTS of dust and dirt in the air), and as a child i used to regularly develop canker sores (though i haven't for quite some time).  

Just recently, i was camping and acquired many bug bites including a couple of inconvenient ones high on my inner thigh and on my scrotum (i am quite certain they are bug bites).  i also noticed what i thought to be one on the head of my penis.  It started as a red bump, however it did not itch (or hurt).  Now it has opened to form a small, not very painful, sore (perhaps from abrasion from pants and masturbating earlier this week i though at first).

A week or two prior to the illness mentioned above i had contact with a partner including kissing and limited genital contact (no oral sex, no penetration).  

My concern is two fold:  What is the connection between canker sores and HSV?  Including, could an infection on the genitals show signs in the mouth? and, could these occurances be linked? -and- If i were to develop an open sore from HSV, i could expect that it would be quite painful - right?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Directly to your questions:

1) There is no relationship between canker sores and herpes.  They are entirely separate health problems. Both canker sores and recurrent oral herpes sometimes can be triggered by other infections, like your recent respiratory infection.

2) It is uncommon for someone to have simultaneous oral and genital HSV infection.  It can occur, but not because the virus travels through the body, e.g. from genitals to mouth.  It only happens when someone simultaneously gets infected at both sites, like having genital sex and oral sex with an infected partner.

3) Most herpes lesions are painful, but many are painless.  Your description of your genital lesion sound like it could be herpes, but not necessarily.  If so, it is probably unrelated to the other bug bites or to your bout with canker sores, and probably nothing to do with your sexual activities with your partner.

Bottom line:  Probably neither your oral sores nor your genital lesion were due to herpes, but there is no way for me to know for certain.  Blood tests are available to tell if someone has been infected with HSV-1, HSV-2, or both.  See your health care provider if you want to pursue that possibility.  And certainly see a provider immediately (within 1-2 days) if a similar genital sore appears again in the future.

Good luck-- HHH, MD