genital hsv 1 headache

a little over 3 weeks ago i had unprotected oral sex with a sex worker. 2 days later I notest a lesion on my penis and all the typical flu like symptoms of herpes.  This lasted about 4-5 days and both the lesion and the flu like symptoms were gone.  I felt completely normal for about 10 days and then about a week ago I started getting a minor headache that would last throughout the day and continues until now, which is about 7 days.  Is this typical of herpes or is there something else i should be worried about? i have read that the symptoms last up to 3 weeks which would be yesterday roughly. Would the symptoms come and go like that?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the STD forum.  I'll try to help.

Certainly your symptoms might have been due to newly acquired genital herpes, but there are atypical features.  Among other things, usually the first episode of symptomatic genital herpes has multiple painful lesions that take 2-3 weeks to heal; and the flu-like symptoms (headache, muscle aching, fever, etc) also do not resolve in under 7-10 days.  There are exceptions, but if genital herpes has not been professionally diagnosed, that should be your next step.

As for continuing or recurrent headache, that also would be atypical as the only ongoing symptom of a recent HSV infection.  And as you already learned, initial herpes symptoms rarely would come and go as you describe.

So you may well have a new genital HSV-1 infection, but it is by no means certain.  The thing to do now is see a health care provider, preferably one known to be experienced in HSV infections, then follow his or her advice about further evaluation.

I hope this helps.  Best wishes--  HHH, MD  

[upsidedown894]

here is more info that i did not not mention.  any ideas from these dates as to what could be going on.  is this something that is typical or should i be worried about something else. another std mabe?



June 6....  unproted oral sex from a sex worker
June 8-11th .... flue like symptoms and a lesion on my penis
June 17th....... went to get tested
June 22.......  tested positive for hsv 1
June 24 - current...... have had a slight headache that will not go away


The 12th through the 23th i felt fine

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

This information doesn't change my opinion or advice.  I don't have any good suggestions for other explanations for your symptoms, except that any number of viral infections, mostly not serious, could cause most of your symptoms.