The incubation period for herpes varies, with symptoms usually appearing within two weeks of contracting the virus. The first infection is typically more serious, with symptoms such as swollen glands and a fever. Subsequent infections are less severe, with variable cycles of the virus going from dormant to active periods. The time between prodromal symptoms and lesion development is usually a couple of days to a week. The number of infections per year can vary, with an average of four expected in the first year.
The incubation period for herpes refers to the time between when people get sick or are exposed to the disease and when it causes symptoms. This can vary depending on the individual. Some people have been noted to develop primary symptoms within a day or two of exposure, but, on the other end of the spectrum, sometimes the condition doesn’t show up for up to a month. On average, people exposed to herpes simplex virus I or II, which cause cold sores or genital infections, are more likely to show symptoms of an infection within two weeks of contracting it. Medical anecdotes occasionally suggest that the primary infection goes unnoticed or that some people may have a much longer dormant period and may not show the disease until years after contracting it, but this is very rare.
When the herpes infection first builds up in the body, it will generally emerge as a primary infection, which tends to be more serious than subsequent infections. The first symptoms often don’t involve any form of rash or cold sore. Women with genital herpes may notice burning or difficulty urinating. People may feel sick and achy, there may be a slight fever, and the glands are often swollen. These symptoms are followed by the development of one or more lesions, usually one to six days later. Some people also feel tingling or pain where the injury ultimately occurs.
For most people, subsequent herpes infections aren’t that serious, although they are still annoying. Healthy people with these infections live with variable cycles of the virus, where it goes from dormant to active periods. In active periods, the herpes incubation period is referred to as the time between prodromal symptoms and lesion development. Most people will have some symptoms that herald the activation of the disease such as tingling or pain or discharge from the genitals, and for women, there is often pain or burning when urinating.
The incubation period specific to herpes that is not primary, or the time between prodromal symptoms and the onset of the lesion, is also variable. Usually the average time varies from a couple of days to about a week. As people learn what these infections feel like, with awareness they can often become adept at determining when an infection will occur. The virus spreads during the prodromal period, and recognizing its signs helps people take precautions to protect others from infection.
The incubation period of herpes in relation to the cycle of the virus is not always predictable and it is difficult to predict how often the virus will become active again. An average of four infections is often expected the first year after getting herpes, but the specific time between infections can be variable. Additionally, many people notice a drop in the number of infections per year the longer they have the virus, but this can change if they fall into poor health or are subjected to extreme stress.
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