However, virus from the mouth can infect the genitals and virus from the genitals can infect the mouth. Herpes virus can also infect other parts of the body, though this happens much less often. Both viruses can stay inside nerve cells and cause symptoms that occur again and again. Infections in children are often mild or cause no symptoms at all. Even if you have had HSV type 1, you can still catch HSV type 2.
Newborn babies can get severe infections that can lead to mental retardation or death.
The first time a person has these symptoms is usually the worst. If the herpes skin lesions come back, they usually occur at the same place as before. Herpes can come back when a person is stressed out, has a fever, gets too much sun, and other times when the body is weakened. Herpes is also more common near the time when a woman has her period. The sores caused by HSV last for about a week or two.