how soon after contracting herpes does an outbreak occur?
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The average incubation period for an initial herpes infection is 4 days (range, 2 to 12) after exposure. The vesicles break and leave painful ulcers that may take two to four weeks to heal after the initial herpes infection. Experiencing these symptoms is referred to as having a first herpes “outbreak” or episode.
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Herpes can affect various areas of the body but is most commonly found on the genitals, anus or mouth. The blisters heal with time (usually within 2-3 weeks), but the virus that causes them cannot be cured, and herpes outbreaks will often reoccur.
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The first outbreak of herpes can last for around 2–4 weeks. After this time, the sores will gradually heal without leaving any scars. People usually find that the first outbreak of herpes is the longest and most painful.
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This is usually 1–2 days before the sore becomes visible. Sores remain highly contagious until the skin completely heals. This can take up to 15 days. During an outbreak, people should be careful not to transmit the virus to others.
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How often do herpes outbreaks happen? Typically, another outbreak can appear weeks or months after the first, but it's almost always less severe and shorter than the first episode. Although the infection can stay in the body indefinitely, the number of outbreaks tends to decrease over the years.
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The first outbreak (also called the “first episode” or “initial herpes”) usually starts about 2 to 20 days after you get infected with herpes. But sometimes it takes years for the first outbreak to happen. The first herpes outbreak lasts about 2 to 4 weeks.
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Timeline of symptoms The first outbreak of herpes can last for around 2–4 weeks. After this time, the sores will gradually heal without leaving any scars. People usually find that the first outbreak of herpes is the longest and most painful. Some people have repeat outbreaks.
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It usually takes between three and five days after contact with an infected person before blisters appear. The viruses can remain in faeces for several weeks.
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In some cases, a person with herpes may not experience any symptoms of the virus for many years. In other cases, the first symptoms can appear around 2–10 days after a person contracts the virus. The first outbreak of herpes can last for around 2–4 weeks.
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In recurrent outbreaks, there usually is no fever or swelling in the genital area. Sores heal more quickly—within 3–7 days in most cases. Also, recurrent outbreaks usually are less painful. Outbreaks usually are most frequent in the first year after infection.
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Stop having sexual contact as soon as you feel warning signs of an outbreak. Warning signs may include a burning, itching, or tingling feeling. Do not have vaginal, anal, or oral sex — even with a condom. Wait until seven days after the sore heals.
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Recurrent Genital Herpes Signs and symptoms of recurrent episodes (when they occur) tend to be milder and usually heal sooner than initial herpes. Some recurrent outbreaks are very mild, sometimes without obvious blisters or sores and may clear up within 4-5 days.
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The first outbreak, which is often the worst, usually ends within three weeks. Over time, recurrences tend to decrease in frequency, duration, and severity. Genital herpes infections caused by HSV-2 recur more often than those caused by HSV-1.
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It may take between six and eight weeks to detect antibodies in a herpes blood test after first becoming infected with HSV. Also, antibodies may disappear with time, especially if the person has infrequent recurrences of herpes.
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It generally takes anywhere from 4 to 7 days for herpes symptoms to appear. Both genital and oral herpes outbreaks have similar symptoms. The primary symptom of a herpes outbreak is sores that resemble blisters, called herpes lesions, on the mouth or genitals.
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Symptoms appear between two days and two weeks after infection. However, once infection occurs, ongoing reoccurring flares of herpes can persist for as long as a person is infected. How is herpes simplex spread?
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Some people may even be able to “feel” when a recurrent herpes outbreak will occur—this is called a prodrome—noticing symptoms like tingling, itching, or leg pain anywhere from 30 minutes to five days before the skin symptoms start (3,4).