Herpes, both genital and oral is caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus. There are two strains of this virus, HSV-1 AND HSV-2. HSV-1 is known to cause oral Herpes, while genital herpes is caused by the HSV-2 virus.

The common symptom for these two diseases is the appearance of blisters and sores on the body; the difference lies on the part of the body they appear. In case of oral herpes, they appear on the lips, in and on the mouth. In genital Herpes, the sores appear on the genital area