Some people who have latent herpes infection never experience signs or symptoms. Some people have such mild symptoms that they may not recognize the infection for many years. For others, outbreaks can be repeated often and cause extreme discomfort. These are some common signs of recurrent outbreaks. Yes Researchers have learned that the herpes virus can become active without causing signs or symptoms.
Many people can have very subtle forms of recurring herpes that heal quickly, in a matter of days.
In the early phase of a recurring episode, many people feel an itching, tingling or painful feeling in the area where the lesions will develop. This can include pain in the buttocks, back of legs or even lower back. The prodrome often happens a day or two before an outbreak. How often a person gets a herpes outbreak depends upon the HSV type and how long the infection has resided in the body. Herpes triggers are poorly understood by scientists and appear to be highly individual.