What are the incubation periods for syphilis and HIV?

The incubation periods for syphilis and HIV infection are typically two to four weeks. In latent syphilis, the infection may remain asymptomatic for an extended period—often several months or even years—before progressing to manifest (overt) syphilis. AIDS is an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), characterized by severe immune suppression. Following HIV infection, most individuals develop transient, flu-like symptoms within two to four weeks; these symptoms usually resolve spontaneously within two to four weeks.