[Question #11799] Follow up from my last question
 |
12 months ago
|
I’m back. Terri answered my last post not sure if I’ll get her again or one of the doctors. Since my partner developed flu like symptoms the night of and morning after exposure, he thinks he definitely contracted a STI or STD. Symptoms are going away but he still feels fatigue. Is there any advice you can provide regarding his symptoms (fatigue, congestion, headache, fever). Can it be related to a STI/STD? He does not have any lesions as of now, only had the symptoms mentioned above.
 |
Edward W. Hook M.D.
12 months ago
|
Welcome back to the Forum. On this occasion, as your questions are broader than simply the possibility of HSV, I will be answering your questions. In preparing to respond, I reviewed your earlier interaction with Ms. Warren and agree with all that she said including that any risk for transmitted your HSV to your partner through a very brief, unprotected exposure is very small and that if you had transmitted HSV or any other STI to him during the encounter of concern, symptoms would take more than 24 hours to develop. I hope that my additional comments will be helpful.
Your partner is mistaken. While some of the common viruses that cause every day flu-like illnesses can cause symptoms within 2-3 days following an exposure, the development of his symptoms was probably due to something else that he was already developing when you had sex. The symptoms you describe could be due to influenza, COVID 19 (rates are rising across the nation right now), or any of the many, many viruses that occur from time to time. There is simply no scientific reason to think that his recent illness was due to an STI that was transmitted during your brief unprotected encounter.
I hope these additional comments are reassuring to you (and to him). I'm glad he's feeling better. EWH
--- |
12 months ago
|
Thank you for your response.
Are the symptoms he is/was experiencing those of an initial outbreak of HSV? I read online that they are.
In addition to me not taking my antiviral medicine for a couple of days does put him at a higher risk?
Are you saying his symptoms are from something else because of the timeline?
Do you recommend him to get tested?
Although his symptoms are going away, do you think there is a chance for him to develop lesions?
If he develops lesions over the next couple of days, does that conclude I transmitted it to him?
My apologies for all the questions. I appreciate your advice
|
Edward W. Hook M.D.
12 months ago
|
Persons who experience flu-like symptoms with recently acquired herpes have lesions present. If he does not have lesions, he has not acquired herpes.
---
Even without preventative medicine, his risk of getting herpes through the brief unprotected exposure you describe is substantially less than 1 in 1000 - in other words, even without medicine there would be a more than 99.9% chance he would NOT get herpes. Having taken the medicine, even if you missed a few days, lowers that risk even more.
I recommend against testing related to this event. If he were to test at this time, any results would reflect something that happened in that past, not something that happened just a few days ago. It takes months for HSV antibodies to develop.
No I do not anticipate him developing lesions. as Terri already told you, if lesions are going to appear, they will do so on average, about 5 days after the exposure and always within 10 days. If he did develop lesions in the next few days, (i.e. within 10 days), then you would be the likely source however, I am confident he is not going to develop lesions.
I'm sorry for the unprotected encounter but I remain confident he is not going to get HSV as a result. Try to control your anxiety.
You have one follow-up remaining. That will need to be your last. If you return with further questions after this thread is closed, the thread may be closed without a response and without return of your posting fee. EWH
|
12 months ago
|
I see online that condoms do not prevent transmission. We always have. Is there no benefit in using them?
As you can see my anxiety is at an all time high.
|
12 months ago
|
And yes we had protected intercourse that night.
|
12 months ago
|
Since his immune system was low the day we had sex (signs previously mentioned), does that make him more prone for acquiring the virus?
|
Edward W. Hook M.D.
12 months ago
|
As you know, this is your third set of follow up questions and that will complete the thread. Following this reply, the thread will be closed and further questions about your fears of transmission may not be answered if you should post again. I continue to think that you are overreacting. The likelihood of acquiring HSV Through the encounter that you’ve described is less than 0.1% ( I.e. there is a greater than 99.9% chance that he will not have acquired HSV)
Condoms are not perfect but do reduce the risk of acquiring herpes by about 60%.
He is not particularly prone to acquiring the virus. I understand that you were anxious and concerned, but that is really unwed, and my assessments are not going to change. This completes this thread, which will be closed shortly..
---