How long is incubation period for HSV (i.e., the time from initial infection to appearance of vesicles)?

The time interval between exposure and development of primary disease is estimated to be 3 to 14 days. However, not all cases of primary disease are symptomatic, and so the first evidence of infection may be a recurrent episode, well after the actual exposure. This is important to note, especially in the case of genital infection where the sudden development of “herpes” in one partner in a monogamous couple could create concerns regarding infidelity.