Herpes - A question about the herpes virus?

A question about the herpes virus?

How long after I have been exposed to the herpes virus, will I show symptoms? I have a new girlfriend and now I have something on my lip. It looks very suspicious. I would have gotten it eight days ago. I didn't see anything when I was down there, but I know that doesn't mean anything. Thanks for your help.

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The term herpes is used colloquially in English to refer to a (usually) sexually transmitted, double-stranded DNA virus called herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 2 (also known as human herpesvirus 2, or HHV2) or its closely related to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1 or HHV1) when causing infection in the genital region. Herpes simplex type 1 is usually the cause of common nonsexually transmitted cold sores. These two viruses are among the eight members of the herpes virus family that infect humans and cause a variety of illnesses such as cold sores, brain infection (encephalitis), chickenpox, shingles, various cancers and up to 70% of the cases of Bell's palsy (facial paralysis) [1]. A significant number of medical institutions place the incidence of oral herpes (HSV-1), commonly called cold sores, between 50 and 80 percent among the American population in the fifth decade of life. The overall HSV-1 seroprevalence is dropping a few points per decade in the US, as in all industrialized countries. African-Americans and immigrants from undeveloped countries typically have HSV-1 rates in adolescence that are two or three times higher than that of whites. As a result of lower HSV-1 seroprevalence, more Americans are entering marriage/sexual activity/child bearing years seronegative for HSV-1. The absence of antibodies to HSV-1 from a prior oral HSV-1 infection leaves them susceptible to primary HSV-1 genital infections. This brings with it a risk of vertical transmission to the neonate if the mother contracts in the third trimester, due to lack of time for full seroconversion before childbirth. The seronegative mother (who lacks antibodies) has up to a 57% chance of conveying the infection to her baby while it is being born which can be serious; whereas a recurrent infection in a woman seropositive for both HSV-1 and HSV-2 is thought to be around 1-3%. The incidence of genital herpes (HSV-2) in the US is estimated to be between 25 and 30 percent or about one in four adults. "Although African Americans are more likely to test positively for HSV-2, Caucasians have a higher risk for active genital symptoms, and over the past few years the greatest increase in HSV-2 has been observed in white adolescents." People with multiple sexual partners and those who become sexually active at a young age are also higher-risk populations for the transmission of HSV-2. [1][2][3][4] According to the American Social Health Association (ASHA), most infected people (up to 90%) don’t know they are infected because their symptoms are too mild to notice or are mistaken for another condition. [2] Several estimates suggest that by 2025 up to 40% of all men and half of all women could be infected with genital herpes.[5] Herpes simplex 1 and 2 viruses are similar in that they are both transmitted by direct contact and can sometimes cause intensely painful fluid-filled blisters, containing millions of infectious virus particles. The primary difference between the two infections is the principal site of infection—mucous membranes of the lips and nearby oro-facial skin for HSV-1, and the genital skin for HSV-2. After initial infection, these viruses both travel to sensory nerves, where they reside as life-long, latent viruses. HSV-1 often lies dormant in the trigeminal ganglia that provides sensation to the lips, lower mouth and neck; while HSV-2 often resides in the sacral ganglia supplying sensation to the pelvic area including the genitals, perineum and upper legs. When the viruses reactivate to cause symptomatic disease, they travel back to the respective skin areas served by these nerves, leading to the different (oral vs. genital) distributions of cold sores. Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 are transmitted by contact with a herpetic sore (usually through kissing or touching, and possibly from objects such as shared drinking glasses - but see comment at the bottom of this page.[citation needed]) Transmission of these two viruses can be more complicated in that both HSV-1 and HSV-2 are shed (to a much lesser extent) from persons without active sores. While both oral and genital herpes are characteristically "nuisance infections" that are not life-threatening, cold sores (on the face) can cause rare severe or fatal disease if they travel to the eyes or brain. This is of particular concern in the case of newborns infected by genital herpes during passage through the birth canal (the risk of this occurring is by far higher when the mother has a primary infection just prior to birth and lacks protective antibodies that would otherwise reduce viable virus shedding). HSV-1 genital herpes has been shown to be more infectious in primary episodes than HSV-2. Both oral and genital herpes infections have periods of active cold sore disease lasting 2-10 days and then remission when the cold sores disappear. The majority of cases however are asymptomatic, but asymptomatic shedding has been shown to occur. Over time, periods of remission generally increase in length, and the duration of cold sores decrease, until the person rarely has active disease. At the same time, virual shedding also decreases. The frequence of recurrences is regulated by specific immunity developed by the patient against the virus. A previous HSV-1 infection tends to ameliorate the symptoms of a subsequent HSV-2 infection. All the viruses in the 'herpes family' are life-long. Recurrences can be triggered in some individuals by specific events, such as sunburn, ultraviolet light, wind, trauma, surgery, stress or other infections. Being that the virus is present but held in check by antibodies in an immunocompetent person, the weakening of the immune system in HIV or transplant patients can trigger serious HSV infections such as keratitis in people with facial infection. The ways in which herpes simplex infections manifest themselves vary tremendously among individuals. The following are general descriptions of the courses outbreaks may take in the oral and genital regions.
Time frame is perfect for an exposure or it could purely be coincidental that you are now getting a cold sore. Unless you know she has herpes, the cold sore is of your own body's doing. But, if it turns out to be a cold sore, you have now put her at risk for getting genital herpes from your cold sore. Not good.
You most likely already had oral herpes before this relationship. Roughly 80% of adults already have the oral herpes (HSV-1) virus. Most people get it in childhood from kissing adult relatives. If you feel strongly that you want to know whether or not it is herpes, then you can go to your doctor and they will test it for you. Even if you don't have it, and you get it from your girlfriend, you may never show symptoms. Most people who have herpes (and who transmit herpes) don't know that they have it. The only way to know (if you don't show symptoms) would be a blood test. Also, you will not know if you got it from her, or had it before. Since you are dating someone with genital herpes (HSV-2) you should take a little bit of time to educate yourself on her disease - the symptoms, methods of transmission, and so forth. I'd suggest you read through the information offered by the American Social Health Association (ASHA). This is a reliable source (unlike, say, YahooAnswers) where you can get complete up-to-date information on herpes. Good luck!