Really depends on the person. A pronome symptom (tingly, itcy, reddish feeling that happens right before the outbreak comes to form), will usually happen a few days before the sore pops up......I would say around 2 to 4 or 5 days,,,,If it's a primary infection, it can last up to 2 weeks along with many other fluish symptoms, but if it's a reacurring outbreak then it can last around 5 days (give or take a few days) but I am not a professional, ask a DR.