How Long Can Herpes Be Dormant?

Herpes is a common contagious viral infection that can cause cold sores around the mouth or small, burning blisters and ulcers in the genital area. Once contracted, the herpes virus does not leave the body, even with treatment.

The herpes virus remains dormant in a part of a nerve called the ganglion. Certain life events or reactions can lead to the reactivation of the virus and recurrent ulcers around the mouth or genital region.

This article discusses the difference between a herpes incubation period and a dormancy period. It will go into the symptoms of a herpes outbreak and what you can expect from a lifelong infection with the virus.

Herpes Incubation Period

Herpes is an infection with herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) or herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2). HSV-1 is more often associated with oral herpes, also known as cold sores, but the virus can spread to the genital area. HSV-2 leads to genital herpes.

The viruses are 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).

When a person contracts a herpes virus, it moves from the skin or mucosal membrane to a part of a sensory nerve in the spinal cord called the ganglia.

Shortly after that, a person develops symptoms of an initial herpes outbreak. The incubation period is 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.

The first episodes of blisters and ulcers may last a few weeks before fully healing. This first outbreak is usually the worst (there are more ulcers, and it lasts longer).

Herpes Dormancy Period

After the first outbreak of herpes, the lesions heal, and the virus remains dormant in the sensory nerve ganglia. 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. 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:

• Recent sexual intercourse
• Stress
• Recent infection
• Recent surgery
• Pregnancy or menstruation
• A weakened immune system
  

There is no way to know whether a specific individual will have more frequent outbreaks. However, people with human 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.

Herpes Symptoms

Most people with herpes do not develop any symptoms or have very mild blisters that can be mistaken for pimples.

When significant symptoms develop, herpes is characterized by painful blisters and ulcers around the mouth or genital region. People can also develop blisters in the anal area. People with genital herpes may also have swelling of lymph nodes in the groin.

Other symptoms associated with herpes include:

• Tingling in the genital area
• Shooting pain down the thighs
• Fever
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Muscle aches

Herpes Outbreak

If a person contracts a herpes virus, there is a high likelihood they will not even know it. Most do not develop symptoms. However, if a person does develop symptoms, it is usually shortly after contracting the virus. The first outbreak is typically the worst.

People who develop recurrent attacks of herpes can often feel a prodrome, meaning they have mild symptoms that indicate a herpes attack is coming on. Prodrome symptoms often include fatigue and tingling or itching in the genital area.

The prodrome is excellent time for a person to start preventive antiviral therapy to prevent the ulcers from developing or to shorten the duration of symptoms. Options for the treatment and prevention of herpes include Zovirax (acyclovir), Famvir (famciclovir), and Valtrex (valaciclovir).

What to Expect

A person will never be able to get rid of HSV-1 or HSV-2 or be cured of the infection. Each individual is different in how often they will have recurrent outbreaks. However, most people do not have recurrent lesions very often. When they do, the episodes become shorter in duration and less severe.

When you live you herpes, you face the psychological burden of having a lifelong disease that a person can transmit to a partner.

Summary

Herpes is a common contagious viral infection that leads 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. Most people are unaware of herpes infection because they never develop symptoms.

If a person develops symptoms, it usually occurs within four to 12 days. 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 are still contagious even without symptoms. It is important to use a condom during sex to avoid infection with herpes.

A Word From Verywell

Infection with herpes can be painful, embarrassing, and psychologically distressing due to the lifelong nature of the illness. It is possible to reduce the number and the severity of the outbreaks by taking antiviral medication that keeps the virus dormant.

However, a person can still spread the virus even when symptoms are not present. The best protection to prevent transmission is using a condom during sex.