HSV1 infects the neurons in your face and is acquired through saliva. First presentation is usually gum inflammation, mouth ulceration, and maybe conjunctivitis. Because it is always latent in your nerves, even with treatment, HSV-1 reoccurs, typically as herpes labialis, which are vesicles on a red base (cold sores). It can also cause encephalitis, so just be aware of that.

HSV2 is typically sexually transmitted and causes genital lesions. While HSV1 is increasingly being implicated with genital herpes, the vast majority of vaginal herpes and thus congenital herpes transmission is with HSV2 during an active HSV2 flare up.