What can be mistaken for Herpes?

Noticing a sign of Herpes can be worrying, but don’t panic. It is easy to mistake Herpes for something else. Here, we explain the other potential causes for Herpes-like symptoms and how to find out if it is Herpes, or not.

The Herpes Simplex Virus, also known as Herpes, is often misunderstood yet an extremely common infection. The symptoms of Herpes usually form as sores and blisters in the oral and/or genital area, depending on which type of Herpes it is. However, it is not always easy to differentiate the symptoms from other health or skin conditions.

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The basics

Traditionally we think of Herpes in two ways:

• Oral Herpes (HSV-1). This strain of Herpes appears around the lips and nose or inside the mouth, commonly known as ‘cold sores’ or ‘fever blisters’. The nerves around the infected area will be sensitive and pain is common.
• Genital Herpes (HSV-2). This appears as sores or blisters in the genital area, with localised pain and soreness, sometimes prominent when urinating.

But through oral sex, we see more genital herpes being type 1 and even see oral herpes caused by the type 2 strain.

When a person first comes into contact with Herpes, they almost always have symptoms like cold sores or genital sores. Having herpes means having an infection that lies dormant in our bodies and the infected person can have outbreaks from time to time. These secondary outbreaks are always milder than the initial infection and often, people with Herpes will not show any symptoms. In fact, only 1 in 3 people will have symptoms, whilst the majority will have either mild symptoms or none. Therefore, it is highly likely that a person may not even be aware that they have the virus.

If someone is infected with Herpes and has an outbreak, they can spread the virus to another person through skin to skin contact, including kissing and sex. As we mentioned, HSV-2 can be passed to a partner through oral sex, if the person performing oral sex is infected with HSV-1. Although some people have outbreaks and don’t even realise this, the overwhelming majority of herpes infections occur because the infected person had symptoms.

Because the virus is passed from one person to another, most commonly when either person has active sores or blisters, if you have any symptoms, you should always refrain from sexual contact. However, rarely, Herpes can also be passed when symptoms are not present. Using condoms can help to prevent spreading or catching Herpes, but since condoms do not cover the entire genital area, they are not 100% effective.

What else can resemble Herpes?

Herpes symptoms can be mistaken for many other things, including:

• A different STI which causes visible lesions, such as Syphilis or genital warts (HPV)
• Irritation caused by shaving
• A urine infection
• Ingrown hairs
• Pimples
• Yeast infections
• Haemorrhoids
• Bug bites

How to be sure whether it is Herpes or not

If you are noticing symptoms that are concerning you, getting tested is the only way to be sure whether it is Herpes or not. You can choose to book an appointment at one of our nationwide clinics or test at home with one of our convenient home test kits.

If you do have symptoms, a simple swab test can provide you with the peace of mind you need. Alternatively, why not consider our Blemish Screen? This swab test will detect Syphilis, Herpes and HPV, so you can be sure which (if any) is causing your symptoms. This is available as a home test kit, or you can book in at one of our clinics. Find out more here.

With our convenient Photo Consultation service, you can send a photo of your lesion(s) to our expert doctor who will review your photograph and recommend the next steps based on your symptoms. If you feel unsure about which test or screen to book, this is the perfect option for you.

If you do not have symptoms but would like to find out whether you have the Herpes virus, a blood test will provide results that you and your Better2Know doctor can discuss together.

Book an STI screen at a sexual health clinic near you.

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This blog has been medically reviewed by Dr. Steve Chapman, 02/10/2024.

Sources

[1] Health.com

[2] Everyday Health

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