Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsIncubation PeriodTransmissionDormancy PeriodSymptoms
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Incubation Period
Transmission
Dormancy Period
Symptoms
It’s possible for you to haveherpeswithout knowing it for a long time, even 30 years. Once contracted, the herpes virus never leaves the body, even with treatment.
Herpes is a common contagious viral infection that can cause cold sores around the mouth or small, burningblistersand ulcers in the genital area. Some people may experience no symptoms whatsoever.
The herpes virus remains dormant in a nerve part called theganglion. Certain life events or reactions can lead to the reactivation of the virus and recurrent ulcers around the mouth or genital region.
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How Soon Do Herpes Symptoms Appear?
Theincubation periodis the time between acquiring the virus and developing symptoms. For a herpes infection, this period usually lasts around four days but can be as long as 12 days.
A person may develop symptoms with an initial herpes outbreak within two weeks. However, not everyone develops symptoms.
If symptoms do occur after contact, the first episodes of blisters and ulcers may last a few weeks before fully healing.This first outbreak usually lasts longer, with more sores and worse symptoms.
It’s also possible for the virus to remain dormant (inactive) in a part of a sensory nerve in the spinal cord called the ganglion.It may stay there for decades before symptoms emerge.
You can transmit the herpes virus to others even if you don’t have symptoms. Safer sex practices likecondom usereduce the risk of transmission, but they don’t eliminate it completely.Note that it’s also possible to be exposed to the herpes virus without it being transmitted.
Theherpes simplex virusesare transmitted through saliva, genital secretions, mucosa (such as the oral, vaginal, and anal linings), skin contact, and from a pregnant person to a fetus or newborn.Activities leading to transmission can include kissing and sex (including oral sex).
The infection can be with herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) or herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2).A person can never get rid of HSV-1 or HSV-2 or be cured of the infection.
Testing for Herpes During IncubationThe preferred test to confirm aherpes diagnosisis sampling an active ulcer.Since people do not have open sores during the incubation period, it is impossible to sample a lesion. Antibody blood tests are available, but these tests are highly inaccurate with false-positive results. People typically do not develop antibodies to the virus until weeks or months after exposure.
Testing for Herpes During Incubation
The preferred test to confirm aherpes diagnosisis sampling an active ulcer.Since people do not have open sores during the incubation period, it is impossible to sample a lesion. Antibody blood tests are available, but these tests are highly inaccurate with false-positive results. People typically do not develop antibodies to the virus until weeks or months after exposure.
After the first outbreak of herpes, the lesions heal, and the virus remains dormant in the sensory nerveganglia.This means that a person still holds the virus in the body but does not have active disease with skin lesions or other symptoms.
The duration of the dormancy period is different for each individual. Some people will have an initial herpes outbreak and never have an episode with symptoms again, or not until decades later. In contrast, other people have frequent episodes of symptoms several times a year.
Specific triggers appear to be related to an outbreak in some individuals. They include:
There is no way to know whether a specific individual will have more frequent outbreaks. However, people withhuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV)or other problems with immunity seem to have more frequent attacks. People with HIV also seem to have more severe episodes of herpes.
Most people don’t have recurrent lesions very often. When they do, the episodes become shorter in duration and less severe.
Herpes Outbreak Prevention
Symptoms associated withgenital herpesinclude:
People with genital herpes may also experience the swelling oflymph nodesin the groin.
Symptoms associated withoral herpesinclude:
The sores tend to open and, after about six days, start to crust over and heal.
What Does Herpes Look Like?
Prodrome Symptoms
People who develop recurrent attacks of herpes can often feel aprodrome, meaning they have mild symptoms that indicate a herpes attack is coming on.
Prodrome symptoms for HSV-1 and HSV-2 can include fatigue, with redness and swelling as sores develop near the mouth in HSV-1. People with HSV-2 may experience tingling or itching in the genital area.
The prodrome is an excellent time for a person to start preventive antiviral therapy to keep ulcers from developing or to shorten the duration of symptoms. Antiviral options include:
Increased Risk for Other Sexually Transmitted InfectionsHerpes is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). People with an STI are at increased risk for other STIs, so it is crucial toget testedfor all of them.
Increased Risk for Other Sexually Transmitted Infections
Herpes is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). People with an STI are at increased risk for other STIs, so it is crucial toget testedfor all of them.
Summary
Herpes is a common contagious viral infection that can lead to cold sores around the mouth and ulcers in the genital region. Once a person contracts HSV-1 or HSV-2, they have a lifelong infection. Many people are unaware of herpes infection because they never develop symptoms. Whether you have symptoms or not, you can transmit herpes to others.
If a person develops symptoms, they usually begin within two weeks. Over a lifetime, a person might have recurrent outbreaks, but these outbreaks become less severe and less frequent.
The virus remains dormant inside sensory nerves when people are without symptoms, but they remain contagious. It is important to use a condom during sex to avoid infection.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Planned Parenthood.Can herpes be dormant for 30 years?MedlinePlus.Herpes simplex.Koenig NI, McGuire JA, Shackleford VP, Bauer K.Reactivation of herpes simplex virus following sphenopalatine ganglion nerve block: Case report and review of the literature.A A Pract. 2023 Oct 23;17(10):e01719. doi:10.1213/XAA.0000000000001719Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About genital herpes.Groves MJ.Genital herpes: a review.Am Fam Physician. 2016;93(11):928-34.Department of Veterans Affairs.Herpes simplex virus (HSV) 1 & 2 infection.MedlinePlus.Herpes - oral.MedlinePlus.Genital herpes - self care.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital herpes-sexually transmitted infection treatment guidelines, 2021.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Oral herpes.World Health Organization.Sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Planned Parenthood.Can herpes be dormant for 30 years?MedlinePlus.Herpes simplex.Koenig NI, McGuire JA, Shackleford VP, Bauer K.Reactivation of herpes simplex virus following sphenopalatine ganglion nerve block: Case report and review of the literature.A A Pract. 2023 Oct 23;17(10):e01719. doi:10.1213/XAA.0000000000001719Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About genital herpes.Groves MJ.Genital herpes: a review.Am Fam Physician. 2016;93(11):928-34.Department of Veterans Affairs.Herpes simplex virus (HSV) 1 & 2 infection.MedlinePlus.Herpes - oral.MedlinePlus.Genital herpes - self care.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital herpes-sexually transmitted infection treatment guidelines, 2021.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Oral herpes.World Health Organization.Sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Planned Parenthood.Can herpes be dormant for 30 years?MedlinePlus.Herpes simplex.Koenig NI, McGuire JA, Shackleford VP, Bauer K.Reactivation of herpes simplex virus following sphenopalatine ganglion nerve block: Case report and review of the literature.A A Pract. 2023 Oct 23;17(10):e01719. doi:10.1213/XAA.0000000000001719Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About genital herpes.Groves MJ.Genital herpes: a review.Am Fam Physician. 2016;93(11):928-34.Department of Veterans Affairs.Herpes simplex virus (HSV) 1 & 2 infection.MedlinePlus.Herpes - oral.MedlinePlus.Genital herpes - self care.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital herpes-sexually transmitted infection treatment guidelines, 2021.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Oral herpes.World Health Organization.Sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Planned Parenthood.Can herpes be dormant for 30 years?
MedlinePlus.Herpes simplex.
Koenig NI, McGuire JA, Shackleford VP, Bauer K.Reactivation of herpes simplex virus following sphenopalatine ganglion nerve block: Case report and review of the literature.A A Pract. 2023 Oct 23;17(10):e01719. doi:10.1213/XAA.0000000000001719
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About genital herpes.
Groves MJ.Genital herpes: a review.Am Fam Physician. 2016;93(11):928-34.
Department of Veterans Affairs.Herpes simplex virus (HSV) 1 & 2 infection.
MedlinePlus.Herpes - oral.
MedlinePlus.Genital herpes - self care.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital herpes-sexually transmitted infection treatment guidelines, 2021.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Oral herpes.
World Health Organization.Sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
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