What are the short- and long-term symptoms of genital herpes?

Herpes simplex: Once you get this virus it stays with you for life. The first exposure may not produce any symptoms, or can be so severe that the patient is incapacitated. It produces blister lesions which itch, hurt and break down into shallow painful tender ulcers, and may be accompanied by fever, malaise, etc. Long-term it may cause recurrence of genital lesions and may produce viral meningitis.