[Question #12205] Ars rash?
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9 months ago
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Hello.
I have a big maculopapular rash with a couple of red spots like petechiae on my torso and forearms, I think there might be some skin coloured stuff going on on my chest as well and a little bit on my lower back. I was ill about a month ago with a cold or something grim from my daughter - we both got ill at the same time. I then took abs for a bout of sinusitis that I got off the back of the cold thing and got ulcers all over my uvula that lasted about a day maybe two. I went to the dentist the day after this on around October 17. Fast forward about a week I had to take thrush meds which I’ve never had before I think from the abs and two days later I woke up with this rash. I’m absolutely petrified that it’s HIV. It seems characteristic and it came about a nine days after the first bout of symptoms. Only thing is I don’t seem to have any of the rcommon risk factors. My husband and I were tested while trying for our baby and I was tested again when pregnant. Maybe two years ago. He had been tested prior to that a few times because I needed reassurance. He’s really supportive. I’m convinced he’s faithful and I sure have been.
We use condoms. The only time we didn’t is about four weeks ago for a blow job. I guess I just want to know if this rash is concerning and would you get tested? Dental work is popping into my head..I recently had a routine check and he’s had a root canal.
I’ve had the rash for about a week, about 8 days after the dentist visit and maybe 3/4 weeks after the oral. I’ve had a very mild sore throat for a couple of days but I get sore throats a lot always have.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
9 months ago
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Welcome to our Forum and thanks for your questions. I'll be glad to comment. There is no meaningful chance that the rash you describe could be due to HIV. I say this for several reasons. These include:
1. You and your husband are low risk. The likelihood that your husband has untreated HIV is close to zero from what you say.
2. If your husband had HIV, the likelihood of acquiring HIV from a single unprotected BJ is close to zero. It is estimated that the average risk of acquiring HIV from performing oral sex on an untreated person is less than 1 in 10,000 sex acts, i.e. like performing oral sex on an infected person daily for more than 27 years.
3. The dental work each of you had does not change your risk for infection.
4. An isolated rash of the sort you describe is far more likely to be due to the antibiotics you took recently than anything else.
5. The ARS does not present with just a rash but with a combination of rash, high fever, severe sore throat, and widespread muscle or joint aches, all beginning at about the same time
I really would not worry and see no medical need for testing. If it would make you feel better, you can test and I anticipate that the result will be negative, showing you that you do not have HIV. Persons with the ARS always have positive tests.
I hope that this information is helpful. Please don't worry and please stay off the internet if that is were the possibility of the ARS occurred. Much of what is found there is incorrect and misleading. EWH
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9 months ago
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Thank you for your response.
Just a quick follow up then if that’s okay please?. I suffer with several allergies and I’m under investigation for a couple, do you think at this stage I need to mention that this could be a drug eruption (the rash will no doubt have gone by my next appointment but I have a couple of pictures). I know it’s not your speciality but if there’s a potential for anaphylaxis in future perhaps I need to make someone aware of a potential penicillin allergy?
Do you know of any other infectious agents that may cause a maculopapular rash with the same characteristics as the ARS rash.
I’ve seen a few different comments about the characteristics of a ARS rash. Some say it’s body wide, some say it’s in the face as well, some say it’s isolated to the upper half like mine.
Some say it causes little spots of bleeding in it like I seem to have. What is the truth about such things?
Im at the clinic in a couple of weeks anyway to pick up some non latex items. If I took a rapid test then would it give a true reflection of my current status or given that I have had this rash do I need to wait a little longer due to the window period being three months? I would get a vein test but honestly I think the wait for the results would kill me off. I’ve had a very stressful few weeks due to other events and I’m already really anxious generally. The results can take days and I’m in a pretty dreadful place mentally.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
9 months ago
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I would mention the rash and what drug you were taking to your doctor. The rash you describe could well be due to penicillin, ampicillin or related drugs. Other non-STI infections, particularly community acquired viral infections could cause a rash.
Not everyone with the ARS has a rash, When it occurs, it is most often widespread. One of the problems with the internet is that the ARS comes up almost as soon as you Google rash , exaggerating the relationship. In my experience petechiae (little blood spots) are not typical of the ARS.
A negative test of any sort will prove that your rash is not the ARS.
Please don't worry. EWH
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9 months ago
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Thank you Dr Hook. It is so appreciated.
For regular people (not ocd people like me), how often do you actually recommend HIV testing?
Our UK clinics say once a year. My beleaguered husband would probably go mad if I suggested this as he knows he has no reason to keep testing, and doesn’t understand why I would feel the need to. I want to make sure I’m responsible but not being too obsessive so any steer on this would be great. I don’t want to damage our relationship with my OCD.
The rash is fading more but I have aching legs and feet in particular which I do get when I’m run down and a bit of a sore throat still.
Would the fact I was ill for a few weeks, with the random uvular ulcers too, and it ended about a week-9 days before the rash not be a cause of concern at all? Especially with these new symptoms too?
This is my last question so I am just trying to cover all bases before I go.
Thanks.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
9 months ago
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You indicated that there is no reason to think that you or your husband are at risk. That being the case, if you have been tested in the past year or two, I see no reason for further testing. Everyone should be tested for HIV once and for those who are at risk because of their sexual activity, once a year should suffice. For those not at risk, there is typically no need for testing. Your rash, throat ulcers, leg aches, etc. Do not change that. Instead, you should focus on your OCD. There is no need for additional testing.
I really would not worry.
As you point out, this response completes this thread which will be closed shortly. Please try not to worry. HIV is far, far less common than your OCD makes you think. EWH
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