[Question #10231] Oral with hiv symptoms 3 weeks later
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24 months ago
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I am a straight female. Three years ago, I provided oral sex WITH ejaculation with a promiscuous straight 18M. I don’t have the best dental health, my gums tend to bleed when I brush. I probably brushed my teeth an hour before this encounter.
3.5 weeks later, I started having textbook symptoms of ARS — fever and sore throat. I was also very congested, and had a terrible productive cough. I was only bedridden for one day, but I recall feeling awful that day and how bad the sore throat was. The cough/congestion lingered for a week or two and sore throat lasted a couple days. I don’t remember having a rash.
I had been clubbing/partying every night for a week immediately before this illness came on, so I figured I caught something going around our college campus. It was late fall, so people were sick.
I tested for strep and covid and was negative. Was prescribed mucinex and zyrtec as the cough was my main symptom aside from sore throat.
This was my only exposure EVER.
I was tested for other STDs, but not HIV. A previous google search had told me there was “little to no risk” so I didn’t worry about it back then.
Ever since then, I have been getting sick somewhat often as a college student. I figured due to being in close proximity with so many different people, but I started researching immunity and that is when i came across HIV.
I know oral is low risk, but my timeline and symptoms match up perfectly.
I just need a dr opinion - Should I be worried?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
24 months ago
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Welcome to the Forum. Thanks for the questions. I'll be glad to comment. Indeed, the risk of the exposure is very, very low. Despite your partner's multiple partners (something that is not at all unusual) the likelihood that he had HIV is low, probably less than 1% unless he had same sex partners of regularly injected drugs. Second, the risk of acquiring HIV from performing oral sex on an untreated HIV infected person is estimated to be less than 1 in 10,000 (i.e. like performing oral sex on an HIV infected person daily for more than 27 years). Thus, statistically your likelihood of having acquired HIV from the encounter you describe is less and probably far less than 1 in a million. Not something to worry about.
I should add two points:
1. When there have been studies of persons seeking care for flu-like illnesses of the sort you describe, 99% of them have something other than HIV. Usually one of the community acquired viruses we all get from time-to-time.
2. I can give you all the statistics in the world but if you have lingering concerns, HIV testing is highly reliable, easily accessed and would provide definitive information.
I would have no concerns. Hope this helps. EWH
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24 months ago
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Dr. Hook, thank you so much for your answer. Just to clarify -- if I were your patient, would you see testing as a medical necessity or are you just recommending it to alleviate my concerns?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
24 months ago
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Good question. Testing is always a personal choice. My suggestion regarding testing was made only for the purpose of alleviating any concerns you might have. I am confident that you did not acquire HIV from the exposure you described. EWH---
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24 months ago
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Thank you. a few follow up questions:
- 2 years after this exposure, I aspirated a large amount of a liquid and then got sick with a bad cough and phlegm. I thought it may be aspiration pneumonia. I went to the doctor but had no fever and she did not hear anything in my lungs, so I was not diagnosed. Gave me antibiotics in case which I took and cleared up my illness. This lead me to believe I may have had aspiration pneumonia, and concerns bc it seems healthy people cannot contract this. I have also had other weird health issues over the past few years, like gastro problems, 2 dental cavities (never had before) and sometimes waking up with a numb arm. I also may have had canker sores in my mouth during the illness I described 3 weeks after my exposure (have always gotten them frequently. Do not remember for sure if i had them then but I read this is a telltale sign of infection). Do these events give you more of an indication I may have been infected?
- I share a bathroom with family members. On handful of occasions, we’ve accidentally used one another’s razors. I rinse my razor off and do not tend to make noticeable cuts. There definitely would not have been any noticeable / wet blood. If I test positive, do I need to tell them and have them tested as well due to using the same razor as me? I read of this happening to siblings and I am freaking out.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
24 months ago
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As I suspect you know, we provide up to three responses to each clients question. As this will be my third response, this will conclude this thread, which will be closed shortly after it is posted.
1. I think you are over thinking this. First, aspiration pneumonia is certainly not an indication of HIV infection. Secondly, you are still concerned years later at a time when I presume you have returned to your normal state, about the possibility of aspiration pneumonia when a trained clinician found no evidence of it, and you were given, and took antibiotics as a precaution.
2. Again, I think you are over reacting. This is a “what if“ question. There is no evidence that you have HIV. If you did infecting family members in the manner, you described is most unlikely.
You asked me earlier in this thread if I thought testing was a good idea for you. My sense is that the statements you’ve made during this thread suggest that you continue to worry about the exposure you described far more then you need to. Because of that I would encourage you to test to put the matter to rest once and for all.
I am confident you did not have HIV and did not get HIV from the exposure you described however, a test will provide an entirely reliable result, which will hopefully allow you to move forward.
This concludes this thread. Take care. EWH.
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